US Offered To Write New Zealand's Three Strikes Laws
from the but-of-course dept
Leaked cables have already confirmed how involved the US government has been in Canadian copyright reform, Swedish copyright reform and Spanish copyright reform. I think, at this point, it's safe to assume that anywhere in the world where we're seeing new draconian copyright laws proposed, the US is behind them.How about New Zealand? Yup. The country that just approved a new three strikes law also faced tremendous pressure from the US. As you may recall, back in 2008, New Zealand politicians tried to sneak through a three strikes law, that would kick people offline based on accusations (not convictions) of infringement. A few months later, mainly due to massive public outcry, the government scrapped those plans and actually promised a complete rethink of copyright laws.
But, of course, the US and its entertainment industry interests couldn't have that. It quickly got heavily involved in pressuring the government. In a cable just after New Zealand decided to scrap the proposed law, the US embassy noted that it made it clear a new 3 strikes law needed to be put in place as soon as possible and saying that the US can help them write the new law.
Embassy will continue to stress with GNZ officials the need for a shorter rather than protracted timeline for the redraft and will ascertain the details of a notice and comment period for public submissions once released by GNZ. During this hiatus we've proposed holding DVC(s) between NZ and U.S. interlocutors to possibly help with drafting and as a public diplomacy tool to dispel public misperceptions about proper role of IPR protection. U.S. agencies have the benefit of 10 years worth of experience in enforcing the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act that may serve useful to New Zealand officials in their effort to implement section 92A.Yes, you read that right. Not only did the US say it would help write a foreign country's laws, it also planned to use its 10 years of experiences with the failed DMCA (as described by the guy who wrote it), as a guide for how to pass bad legislation in New Zealand.
The cables turned up a few other interesting tidbits from a bit further back, including the fact that a program -- run by the Recording Industry Association New Zealand (RIANZ) to set up a website and get people to snitch on their friends, reporting them as infringers -- was funded by the US government. Yes, the US government handed half a million dollars (New Zealand dollars) to the recording industry to get people to turn in their friends for copying music. Lovely.
Separately, the US warned New Zealand that exceptions in copyright law (including those found in US law under fair use) should not be allowed in New Zealand because:
these exceptions to copyright protection would send the wrong message to consumers and undermine efforts to curb unauthorized copying of CDs in New Zealand. They would cost the industry in revenue and profits and discourage innovation.They admit that this info comes from industry lobbyists themselves, but the embassy still seems to think it's valid. This is a complete joke, of course. As many copyright scholars and experts will tell you, it's those exceptions that are important to keeping new content coming and vibrant. The idea that concepts like fair use would "send the wrong message to consumers" is laughable, and the US government shouldn't be pushing such garbage on other countries.
None of this is a surprise, but it is a clear reminder of how much the entertainment industry's completely debunked arguments not only influence US policy on these matters, but they're also pushed by US diplomats on other countries around the globe.
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Filed Under: copyright, diplomats, new zealand, three strikes, us
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This is a tacit admission that these laws exist not because the people want them, they do not, but because industry wants them. The government needs to send the 'right message' to the people because the people don't want these laws. I say we abolish these laws.
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Oh crap =(
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uh
Are other countries not aware of how drastic the economic penalties would be for following what the US asks for?
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Re: uh
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FTFY
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It's not laughable if you're a gatekeeper who wants to hold on to their monopoly.
This is a propaganda war - the fact that they believe that people who engage in culture are "consumers" speaks volumes - culture isn't "consumed", it's *shared* (by definition - if it's not shared, it's not culture.)
While troubling that the US would try to destroy the culture of other countries, this is not really news.
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It's sad enough as it is, that throughout its brief history, that nation has done nothing but expand its borders (literally, as well as figuratively) at the expense of others, but what's even sadder is that most Americans don't really benefit from this. I actually feel sorry for them. Those people who lost their jobs when companies started outsourcing to third-world countries. Those people who had to be sent to Iraq to fight a war that should never have been declared in the first place. Those poor brainwashed people who are rejoicing about the death of some low-life terrorist leader as though terrorism ends with his death.
Some people who are passionately anti-American (we have those here, being one of the countries they invaded) mistakenly lump them all together as one huge evil entity. But a lot of them are just like most of us: part of the taxes they pay with their hard-earned money goes to helping businesses squeeze them even tighter, then convincing them that it's all for their own good.
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To be fair, those same morons were under the delusion that terrorism started with 9/11 so that's not too surprising...
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1) French Resistance (noble, but still terorrists under the US definition);
2) The IRA;
3) Al-Qa'ida (in Afghanistan in the late 80's early 90's.);
4) Hamas (odd, that one).
5) Col. Qadhafi;
6) Saddam Hussein.
So yes, I'd argue that they are the largest funders of Terrorism.
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Well, I liked seeing him dead, but I don't think that is the end of "terrorism". How can I get "un-brainwashed" and be as good in this regard as you? And does this mean we should continue with an endless war on "terrorism"?
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The law is a joke, finding out where all this muppetry originated is just even more infuriating.
The fact that brought the law in under "urgency" during the national state of emergency after the earthquake is insulting.
Their complete disregard for our fundamental right to be considered innocent until proven guilty is scary.
Let's have a look at the people in parliament making these laws shall we?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJdPkrpFXBM
Ohhhh so thaaaaat's how laws like this make it in! Doesn't that just make you lose complete hope?
Americans wonder why the rest of the world has such a negative attitude towards their country. Maybe, just maybe it has something to do with your country constantly trying to bully and interfere with other countries to suit your own needs. We don't need you waltzing in here trying to dictate draconian BS laws that you wont even pass in your own country, you don't have to live with this crap, we do and it's not welcome. So bug off and mind your own god damn business.
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Butt The Hell Out
We are quite capable of writing our own laws, thanks awfully much though anyway.
We rather like to have free speech our style not a police state a la` US.
So thanks very much, if you have anything else to suggest toss it in the round basket and please go and look after your own sad outfit.
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Butt The Hell Out
We are quite capable of writing our own laws, thanks awfully much though anyway.
We rather like to have free speech our style not a police state a la` US.
So thanks very much, if you have anything else to suggest toss it in the round basket and please go and look after your own sad outfit.
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Spin
> proper role of IPR protection
I like how they've spun it so that if you disagree with them, you're depicted as ignorant.
Their propaganda doesn't allow for the notion that people can understand completely how the system actually works and at the same time take issue with it and suggest alternatives.
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