copyright

18 December 2008) Press Release: Creative Freedom Foundation
Campaign Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws in NZ
The Creative Freedom Foundation launches today in New Zealand to unite artists who are against the removal of New Zealander's rights through proposed changes in Copyright law, done in the name of protecting creativity.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0812/S00232.htm

13 January 2009) Press Release: InternetNZ
Urgent Govt action needed on Copyright problem
InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) calls on the Government to urgently resolve problems with Section 92A of the Copyright Act, to prevent the cutting off of Internet access to innocent people and businesses, and disruption to business.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0901/S00015.htm

14 January 2009) LIANZA letter (Library & Information Association New Zealand)
Strongly recommending section 92A be repealed
ISPs will be required to act on accusations of illegal access of copyright materials by users (thereby reversing the legal principle that a person or organisation is deemed innocent until proved guilty)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0901/S00143.htm

15 January 2009) Press Release: NZ Computer Society
Copyright Law “Ethically Flawed”
The New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS) today labeled Section 92a of the new Copyright Amendment (New Technologies) Act 2008 “Illogical” and potentially “Ethically Flawed”.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0901/S00092.htm

16 January 2009) press release by APRA, RIANZ & NZFACT
"New Zealand Creative Industries welcome changes"
Section 92a brings an opportunity for ISPs and rights holders to work together to address the large-scale online piracy problem that is affecting creative industries in New Zealand and worldwide.
It is estimated that 19 out of every 20 music downloads is an illegal download. Between 60 -80 per cent of all internet traffic is peer-to-peer sharing of copyright infringing files. This deprives the songwriters, record artists, actors and all those who work in the creative industries the opportunity for payment for their creativity and effort to produce the songs, movies and software you enjoy.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0901/S00174.htm

16th January 2009) press release by NZ Creative Freedom Foundation
"Thousands of artists have rejected the idea that the creative sector want this done in their name"
No one is seriously saying that creators shouldn't be paid. Conflating the issue of copyright infringement and guilt upon accusation laws is dishonest and misleading.
http://creativefreedom.org.nz/story.html?id=43

20 January 2009) press release by Creative Freedom
"Artists Against Guilt Upon Accusation Laws"
The Creative Freedom Foundation announced today that thousands of artists have signed their petition against the removal of New Zealander's rights through changes in copyright law, purportedly done in the name of protecting artists and creativity.
"While copyright infringement is a problem for artists, our petition shows that thousands of artists think that it is a greater problem for people not to get a trial. Treating fans as guilty until proven innocent isn't what artists want done in their name, and many see that as being damaging to creative industries."
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0901/S00118.htm

20 January 2009) press release by APRA
"Attack on Copyright Laws Refuted"
The suggestion that the new legislation was "draconian" or presumed simple "guilt by accusation" is ridiculous. It is a continued attack on our songwriters whose ability to make a living from their music has already been compromised by widespread illegal file sharing on the internet by those who believe it everything should be free and by the internet companies that profit from it. ....
Music has real economic value and our music writers deserve food on the table and a roof over their head. We know some people want everything for free but the vast majority of songwriters expect and deserve to be paid"
"Without such provisions every legitimate business model involving creative content on the internet is threatened" says Healey
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0901/S00203.htm

21 January 2009) press release by Creative Freedom Foundation
Response to APRAs Statements on the Creative Freedom Foundation
No one is seriously saying that "everything should be free" - especially not the Creative Freedom Foundation. APRA appears to be arguing a black and white case - that you are either for this law, or believe that "everything should be free". This stance is both ill-informed and absurd.
S92A requires ISPs to act upon accusations of copyright infringement and to punish with internet disconnection before a trial and before the evidence has been held up to court scrutiny.
http://creativefreedom.org.nz/story.html?id=51

21 January 2009) press release by ISPANZ
"Copyright issue: Select Committee got it right - Section 92A must be stopped"
ISPANZ notes that the Select Committee considering the original Bill, which was chaired by Hon Gerry Brownlee, rejected this approach, but the previous Government reinserted the clauses in a last minute action, making New Zealand a guinea pig for experimental cyberlaw.
Baddeley says ISPs are being placed in a terrible position
“Under Section 92A We’ll be damned if we do and damned if we don't. We'll be faced with dealing with an accusation, not proven, of a copyright infringement and making a very difficult judgment call. If we decide in favour of our customers, we risk being sued by global media powerhouses. If we decide in favour of the rightsholder and disconnect a customer from the Internet, we risk being sued by customers for breach of contract. Disconnecting customers goes against everything we do."
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0901/S00209.htm
Librarians join protest against implementation of new section of Copyright Act

22 January 2009) Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa
"Librarians join protest against implementation of new section of Copyright Act
LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, representing 460 public, educational, commercial, industrial, legal and government libraries in New Zealand, has joined the widespread protest against the implementation of new section 92A of the Copyright Act, which comes into force on 28 February 2009.
LIANZA has three major concerns about this section. The first concern relates to the extremely wide definition of internet service provider. As written, every person or organisation that has a website is an ISP, as is every library, school, educational institution, association, government department, company, business and office that provides Internet access to its users or to its staff.
http://www.lianza.org.nz/news/newsroom/news1232571195.html

1) sue every ISP that allows copyrighted material to get through
2) sue every broadcast television station that allows people to record to VCR etc.
3) sue every retail store that sells DVDs that allows people to rip them, or share with friends.
4) sue makers of televisions and computer screens, for allowing people to play copyrighted material without permission
5) sue every cinema that allows people to secretly record the movie - that's the cinemas that don't do strip searches of their patrons.

Failing that.. We could remove everyone's eyeballs, and replace them with digital units that only operate if NZFACT allows it. That's what's needed to clamp down on these terrorists... (and perhaps a war or two).