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InternetNZ sponsor of Wellington's Linux Conference

Shiny — Sun, 24 May 2009 04:46:29 +0000

Internet NZ have signed on as a key sponsor of the upcoming Linux & opensource conference (the conference usually known as linux.conf.au)

This is slightly old news, but worth repeating
http://blog.internetnz.net.nz/?p=265

The annual Linux.conf.au conference will be held in January 2010 in Wellington - the second time it has been held in New Zealand. It will bring together local and international open source practitioners who contribute to the Linux operating system and numerous other open source projects. Linux creator Linus Torvalds regularly attends this event.

InternetNZ Executive Director Keith Davidson says open source has played, and continues to play, a key role in achieving InternetNZ’s vision of an open and uncaptureable Internet.

“Every New Zealander that uses the Internet is an open source user. It’s the backbone of almost everything business and government does these days. If you want to get close to the people that have built the core technology of the 21st century, you go to conferences like LCA2010. I’m thrilled it is being held right on our doorstep.”

“It is particularly timely that LCA2010 is being held in Wellington. Government agencies have been caught up in something of a technical monoculture, leading to missed opportunity and detachment from key transformations that the Internet has enabled. Any IT staff in the public sector unfamiliar with open source would get a huge boost talking with technical folk that have enjoyed the freedom of unfettered global collaboration.”

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recurring motif in music

Shiny — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:41:33 +0000

I'm hearing the same thing from many directions this year: Law makers changing copyright laws, primarily to protect musicians, without consulting musicians.

From Radio Head

In addition, the artists are unhappy with the fact that the labels, represented by lobby groups such as the RIAA and IFPI, are pushing for anti-piracy legislation without consulting the artists they claim to represent. Fans are unnecessarily portrayed as criminals according to some.

From Veteran singer-songwriter and political activist Brag

"What I said at the meeting was that the record industry in Britain is still going down the road of criminalising our audience for downloading illegal MP3s, if we follow the music industry down that road, we will be doing nothing more than being part of a protectionist effort. It's like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube."

from Creative Freedom NZ

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.

APRA member and Wellington musician Phil Brownlee

“As an APRA member, the thing that really strikes me about their public position is that it's not based on consultation with actual members (Or, if it was, not all of them.) It disturbs me that APRA seem to be uncritically repeating the (arguably fallacious) arguments of the big international publishers, which, from my point of view, are based on flawed understandings of the technological and social changes we're in the middle of.”

from musician Luke Rowell/Disasteradio

The legislation which has been written with private record company interests will alientate fans and hold them under suspicion and that's not a good way to sell records. [...] I'm not represented, yet.

from Luke Buda of Phoenix Foundation

There is no excuse for a system that disgards the principle of innocent until proven guilty. [..] I'm not represented

from NZ musican Imon Starr

[new law] is ridiculous and needs to be stopped, [..] I am not represented by this law

from Glyn MacLean and Julia

I would like to suggest this; that there is an alternate truth out there amongst NZ musicians that have been systemically exploited to the detriment of NZ music industry. This begs the question, "Why are we allowing these people make decisions about the future of NZ music?"

that's just music. Copyright is ever so much bigger than music.

To law makers everywhere: ASK THE ARTISTS! ASK THE MUSICIANS! ASK THE PLAY WRIGHTS, THE POETS, THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, THE SCREEN WRITERS!! don't take the old-century distributions chain owners as being the artist's representatives - they're not

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Statistics emerge around the Guilt Upon Accusation Law..

Shiny — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:51:40 +0000

With only four days until the Guilt Upon Accusation law, Section 92A of the Copyright Act, is due to come into force the Creative Freedom Foundation (CFF) are highlighting statistics that paint a picture of what New Zealanders may face if the Government allows this law.

Statistics emerge around the Guilt Upon Accusation Law.. With only four days until the Guilt Upon Accusation law, Section 92A of the Copyright Act, is due to come into force the Creative Freedom Foundation (CFF) are highlighting statistics that paint a picture of what New Zealanders may face if the Government allows this law.

S92A was championed by former Labour MP Judith Tizard as a law that would cut off the internet of those "who might be breaking the law" without any due process – effectively removing New Zealander's fundamental right to being presumed innocent until proven guilty. Prime Minister John Key has aptly called this law "draconian".

International trends indicate that S92A may be misused. A University of Southern California report on US copyright infringement has found that businesses targeting competitors account for more than half (57%) of all claims. The same report shows that over one third (37%) of claims of copyright are invalid, pointing out the necessity of trained experts to judge disputes. Within New Zealand Judge David Harvey has commented that 30% of copyright litigation fails due to a failure to prove ownership of copyright, or due to the copyright in question not being governed by New Zealand law.

CFF Director Bronwyn Holloway-Smith says that "it's likely that most organisations affected by S92A are unaware it affects them. Due to its broad definition of internet service provider (ISP), an ISP is now anyone with a shared internet connection or website" she says, "meaning that there are now hundreds of thousands of New Zealand businesses that will need to comply with this law. This will mean extra business compliances costs to avoid the risk of possible secondary copyright infringement". ISPANZ estimate that 90% of NZ businesses use Network Address Translation (NAT) technology to connect their employees to the internet. Holloway-Smith says "Like most home phones, most NAT devices are incapable of tracking individual users, which is a practical necessity of S92A. NAT devices capable of tracking start at $1,500."

Holloway-Smith says that disconnecting an employees' internet is comparable disconnecting their phone line, which could result in a firing an employee now unable to do their job: "While inappropriate use of company services should result in dismissal there are obvious problems if the employer is unsure of the accuracy of evidence. Businesses required to comply with S92A may experience difficulties arising from enforcement measures that could conflict with employment law". Holloway-Smith adds that "A recent OECD study into online crime has found that 25% of computers are infected with viruses that download and distribute material without the owners knowledge."

In contrast, while hundreds of thousands of organisations may be affected by S92A the number of groups represented at the Telecommunications Carriers Forum's (TCF) Copyright Working Party is approximately 35.

As of today 18,717 people, including 9,363 artists, have signed the CFF's petition against S92A.

"While we appreciate that copyright holders want a streamlined system for punishing copyright infringement, these statistics show that infringement requires expert judgment and that these decisions should not be left to untrained ISPs." says Holloway-Smith

ENDS

ABOUT THE CREATIVE FREEDOM FOUNDATION
The Creative Freedom Foundation was founded in 2008 by artists and technologists Bronwyn Holloway-Smith and Matthew Holloway in response to changes in copyright law and the effect these changes are having on creativity, the economy, and public rights. The CFF represent thousands of New Zealand artists including musicians, film makers, visual artists, designers, writers, & performers.
The Foundation's primary goals are:
* The education of New Zealand artists about emerging issues within New Zealand that have the potential to influence their collective creativity
* Advocacy to ensure that their views are taken into consideration, and
* The promotion and encouragement of activities that support and build the New Zealand arts community, positive relationships within that community and/or the positive wellbeing of that community.

The Creative Freedom Foundation views the internet as an opportunity for artists in New Zealand, not a threat and, through their goals, they seek to bring Copyright Law into the 21st Century.

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Public, Artists, and most ISPs not represented in Internet Policy — Creative Freedom Foundation (cre

Shiny — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:58:35 +0000

Public, Artists, and most ISPs not represented in Internet Policy — Creative Freedom Foundation (creSource: creativefreedom.org.nzthis delay also calls for two non-Governmental groups to decide the future of New Zealander's access to the internet. The two groups – the Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) and selected Rights Holders – have been asked to reach agreement on a S92A policy by March 27th. Although the TCF are cur...

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New Zealand Goes All Black Against Three Strikes | Electronic Frontier Foundation

Shiny — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:46:48 +0000

New Zealand Goes All Black Against Three Strikes | Electronic Frontier FoundationSource: www.eff.orgWhether you're following a New Zealander on Twitter, or have friended a Kiwi on Facebook, you will not have missed Net users from that country protesting Section 92A in NZ's new Copyright Act. Thousands are turning their sites and their icons black to mourn the coming enforcement of the provision, w...

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Do APRA realise?

Shiny — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:29:36 +0000

i don't think APRA actually realise they're shitting all over the NZ internet industry and users rights to preserve their traditional revenue.

Spending a moment trying on their shoes - it would look initially like a glorious new world under new legislation. Wearing their shoes, i can see how *angry* the "theft" of their member's work via blatant sharing without permission feels.

They can take down these "thieves" using this law. But are they really so selfish they can't see all the casualties caught in the cross fire?

How can we explain it to them?

This new copyright law threatens the livelihood of those that work on the internet.

This law tramples on New Zealander's rights (artists included).

This law discriminates against those doing business on the interent - if you're accused of copyright in print or broadcast then you need proof, right to a trial, and you don't get summarily punished immediately. They don't remove a TV stations ability to broadcast, or a Magazine's right to publish immediately apon infringment accusation. The new copyright law will remove an internet business abiltiy to do any business immediately apon accusation.

This law discriminates against New Zealanders - we're left with the extra costs passed on by ISPs who become an unpaid copyright police force - we're also left with the threat of summary disconnection, website takedowns, and for some businesses the expense of a secondary connection just in case someone makes an accusation.

(It's worth noting that the costs needs to be somewhere. If not charged via ISPs, then where? on music purchases? in taxes? or do we choose to not police copyright infringment? I don't acutally want to buy or copy mainsteam music, i prefer creativecommons, free music, live music, and purchased indie music, but hey, i don't commit murder either yet i'm not complaing about my taxes going towards stopping it)

We're competing against businesses in countries that don't have these laws. I've heard potential clients intentions to take their webhosts and other internet activities offshore, so they don't have the threat of one accusation taking down their business applications.

The software industry is full of sharks - doing nasty things using - the SCO example comes to mind first. They and their kin can use these new copyright laws unfairly to keep competitors out.

Itellectual Property sharks are nasty -- They collect patents, build nothing, never attempt to use the patents they hoard, and suck money out of anyone who does attempt to build something. Give these kinda of legal sharks some draconian copyright law to play with too and now they have even more teeth, and more targets.

Perhaps RIANZ & APRA will always be diligent and only send accusations when there is a "high level of evidence" -- that doesn't remove the threat these new laws have over the heads of every internet user and internet business in New Zealand.

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Guilty Upon Accusation becomes New Zealand law on 28th February.

Shiny — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:23:20 +0000

from http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09%2F01%2F06%2F0351202&from=rss

Next month, New Zealand is scheduled to implement Section 92 of the Copyright Amendment Act. The controversial act provides 'Guilt Upon Accusation,' which means that if ~~a file-sharer~~ any New Zealander is simply accused of copyright infringement he/she will be punished with summary Internet disconnection. Unlike most laws, this one has no appeal process and no punishment for false accusation, because they were removed after public consultation. The ISPs are up in arms and now artists are taking a stand for fair copyright.

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Nothing new - except this.

Shiny — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:00:15 +0000

ACTA negotations involving New Zealand are still guided by people who think copyright infringement is equivalent to terrorism.. and when a crime is as bad as terrorism then we don't get a trial. (That logic appears often this century)

National Party (NZ's new government) coud be reviewing our insane new copyright law, perhaps fixing the section 92A and 92C "guilty apon accusation" clauses - but possibly adding more wishlist of BigContent owners at the expense of New Zealander's freedoms.
quoting from http://www.stuff.co.nz/4763648a28.html

"National has said it is open to a "complete review" of copyright
legislation and there is speculation it may intervene to stop 92A taking effect."

I'm working working working - doing a few "middle of the morning" (aka 4am) changes in corners of telcos.

and I'm moving house - new place is definitely a student pad, cheap, no dishwasher, no bath, no gas, no heating :-( but it's cheap and close to the city and has a lawn access via a tall ladder that has 270 degree views of the city. Previous tenants used it as a Stoner Lawn - we'll be making it an Epic Beer Drinking Lawn.

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Helen Clark on s92a

Shiny — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:21:36 +0000

Prime Minister Helen Clark (avoids) answering questions on why the new copyright act requires only an accusation from a "copyright holder" to get a New Zealander's internet access cut off.

(flash plugin required for video)

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