colin jackson

What planet are APRA from?

Posted Mon, 20/07/2009 - 20:47 by Shiny

Colin Jackson has a good read on his blog on APRA's assertion that the internet would be empty without the content industries

Let’s just pause for a moment and celebrate a few of the things that people get over the Internet. Wikipedia. Twitter. Email. Hubble Space Pictures. Skype. Travel Bookings. Banking. News. Maps. I could go on, and I’m sure you could too.

By saying something as stupid as this APRA is showing that it really doesn’t live on the same planet as the rest of us.

Things i did tonight on the internet
# wrote 2 blog posts
# Reviewed a Drupal patch
# accepted a calendar invitation from a friend
# topped up my prepay cellphone
# paid my rent and credit card bill on internet banking
# checked http://identi.ca
# sent a merge request for unicode tags on laconca
# chatting about git stash with a friend
# read emails
# reviewed miniconf proposal for #lca2010
# read about the locomotive act on wikipedia
# approved a friend request on last.fm
# synchronised my digital pen with the cloud
# searched for creative commons photos on http://flickr.com
# commented on a Labour party blog post

Guilty till proven innocent - New Zealand copyright act.

Posted Fri, 10/10/2008 - 10:49 by Shiny

New Zealand has a new Copyright Act, that goes into effect on 28th February 2009

In amongst the act is section 92a: ISPs are required to disconnect those accussed of copyright infringement. This was worrying, and during select committee discussion this was modified to have penalties when the accuser turns out to be wrong. (see Controversial copyright clause to be amended computerworld.co.nz)

At the last minute the penalties for wrong accusations was removed. So, the copyright act passed, with section 92a allowing copyright holders to accuse anyone of infringement, without requiring proof - and ISPs are forced to comply and disconnect service. You don't get a trial, you're just cut off and no more internet for you.

No more email, no booking airlines, no more buying books on the internet - you're cut off based only on an accusation. If they decided to accuse me, I would not be able to continue my occupation as an Open Source programmer / gadget wrangler. I'd have to give up and probably retrain as a barrista.

This is New Zealand law. You can't make this shit up!

Internet NZ response to ACTA

Posted Wed, 06/08/2008 - 21:04 by Shiny

Internet Society of NZ has made a submission on the proposed Anti-Counterfeit Treaty: ACTA:
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/issues/submissions/2008/acta (pdf)

ACTA is DMCA style legislation wrapped up into a Treaty. It orginates in the USA, and New Zealand government is asking for comment on it..