Ireland Signs Controversial 'Irish SOPA' Into Law; Kicks Off New Censorship Regime
from the block-block-block dept
Remember how EMI sued the Irish government for failing to pass a SOPA-like law that will force ISPs to act as copyright cops and censor and block access to websites that the entertainment industry doesn't like? Well, apparently, the end result is that the Irish government has now signed the bill into law. This happened despite widespread protests in Ireland against the bill.The Irish Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock, is insisting that the final version of the bill is much more limited than earlier proposals, and that it took guidance from recent EU Court of Justice rulings that say ISPs shouldn't have to be proactive about blocking. That still means that copyright holders can petition to force ISPs to block all access to various websites, and as we've seen in other countries in Europe, you can bet that the major record labels and studios will be doing just that very soon (if they haven't already) -- though their track record on properly calling out infringement isn't very good.
Sherlock, apparently realizing just how bad this looks to the citizenry, is trying to balance this announcement out by also saying that he's launching the "next stage" of the process to review copyright in Ireland, with the goal of "removing barriers to innovation." This is an ongoing process that we first wrote about last year, when the country realized that existing copyright law was holding back innovation.
Of course, the end result is that the government appears to be trying to move in two different directions at once. On the one hand, it's catering to the legacy entertainment industry interests and hindering the internet as the platform that enables new business models... while at the same time paying lip service to how it has to increase such innovation. Here's a tip: the first thing towards increasing innovation in business models online is not putting misplaced liability on service providers, not setting up a censorship regime, and not removing the incentives for the entertainment industry to actually embrace innovative business models.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: blocking, copyright, free speech, ireland, isps, sopa
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Typical legislation sequence
2. Promise to study what to do about the Internet.
3. If any studies happen to get done, ignore.
4. Repeat.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Typical legislation sequence
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Typical legislation sequence
1. Pass draconian law to censor the Internet.
2. Promise to study what to do about the Internet.
3. ...
4. profit!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
The fact is that giving stuff away and letting someone else make money off of it is now the old business model. The real place we need innovation is finding an acceptable paywall that helps the artist afford health insurance while keeping the patrons happy enough to pay.
That where we need innovation and that's why you celebrated it when Louis CK and Kevin Smith did it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
Tell you what bob, I'll start giving a shit about that when I can afford decent health insurance for myself, ok?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Typically "Irish" from an English p.o.v.
Arse-about-tit imv, a bit like ACTA in the EU being discussed again tomorrow: http://wp.me/p1jRDO-5T
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
Exactly! That's why we're trying to popularize new business models that help the artist prosper instead of the record labels. You've finally got it, bob!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
A MOVIE REMAKE THAT NOBODY ASKED FOR IS INNOVATION
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
FREE SERVICES ARE BAD FOR THE CUSTOMER
MONEY IS SPEECH
Hey, this is pretty easy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Online media such as the thejournal.ie gave it exstensive coverage. You the coverage that over 80,000 people signing a petition against deserves.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
I get confused sometimes....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The internet is broken, BTW... Ireland is just trying to fix it a bit.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Vote them out of office!
The easiest prey is that which does not fight back.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
In what regard? Please explain the way in which the "internet" is broken.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lol Ireland
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ireland is run by a large number of career politicians:
- some of whom effectively inherited their positions from their parents
- many of whom have no actual skills other than being personable
- with little to no concept of how the Internet works
- in an environment where corruption is rampant, excessive, and largely unpunished
- and surrounded by businesspeople who have a habit of seeing the government as a tool to be used to increase their profits.
Of course it was passed. Cronyism alone would ensure that. If the Irish government are not going to listen to the people when it comes to something like bailing out the defunct banking system - after it was run off a cliff by rich bankers with ties to the major political parties - then they will not listen now.
The chunk of Ireland that votes is largely the older population who view technology with deep suspicion. The major political parties are a choice between the deeply corrupt, the ineffectual and incompetent, and the so-small-they're-powerless. And the younger, college-educated generation (most of us, we can get close-to-free third level degrees) between 20 and 30 years old are emigrating in their thousands, in keeping with the long tradition of the Irish saying 'fuck this' and getting out of the country when faced with economic disaster.
In short: the only thing that'll have an effect on this is if the major tech companies (who base their European HQs in Ireland to take advantage of the ridiculously low corporate tax rate) start kicking up a fuss or bribing the right people. Nothing in Irish politics matters except money, and if they threaten to take all their money and leave for someplace less obviously crazy, the law will be struck down so fast your head will spin. But nothing - NOTHING - the actual populace can do will make a difference.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
[ link to this | view in thread ]
just read from the link posted. wow! Karel De Gucht is so full of BS it's unbelievable! wonder how long it took and what incentives he received to make him such a lying arse hole? the conversation later will be very interesting. i hope that gets posted.
as for Ireland, they obviously didn't have the balls to stand up against EMI. how can a country sell out it's people like that? will be interesting when the EU decides whether it ACTA is legal or not if Ireland has to change things.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
- with little to no concept of how the Internet works
- in an environment where corruption is rampant, excessive, and largely unpunished
- and surrounded by businesspeople who have a habit of seeing the government as a tool to be used to increase their profits."
You just described a large part of the politicians world-wide :)
(but interesting post)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
You don't know the half of it! Being forced as citizens to repay bank debts etc.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Typical legislation sequence
Drug prohibiton is THE biggest mistake of the last century, it doesnt work, and never will.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Typical legislation sequence
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Fallout from which will only hurt others
The unintended consequences of this will be to hurt small content creators, innovators and business owners. When I say 'unintended' I mean by the legislators. The media companies couldn't care less about what happens to artists.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Typical legislation sequence
1. Profit
2. Pass draconian law to censor the Internet
3. Promise to study what to do about the Internet
4. ???
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Putting up a paywall is an innovative business model
Eg. the Irish Times : originally all paywall, then free, as otherwise there was no money, now just small money from advertising.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Innovative New Business Models
I don't think that's going to work.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
GOVERNMENTS ARE GOOD
CELEBRITIES ARE EXCELLENT ROLE MODELS
Am I doing it right?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sell-out
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Sell-out
Your ignorance is showing.
(FYI, it's not called the Land of Saints and Scholars for nothing. How about you do the research before you decide to open your mouth next time?)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
http://www.labour.ie/seansherlock
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Sell-out
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Fallout from which will only hurt others
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Media companies can whine all they like about CD sales not being what they were, tell it to the horse, and buggy manufacturers. Hobbling the internet, so that you don't have to change your business model is state socialism for the wealthy.
There is a tiny chance that a hypothetical government could devise a positive piece of legislation for the internet. Neither this, not SOPA are that piece of legislation. In fact, they are actively harmful to the consumer, and in the long term to the rights holders.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Lol Ireland
Of course you appear to value glibness over actually knowing anything.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Innovative New Business Models
Media companies can whine all they like about CD sales not being what they were, tell it to the horse, and buggy manufacturers. Hobbling the internet, so that you don't have to change your business model is state socialism for the wealthy.
There is a tiny chance that a hypothetical government could devise a positive piece of legislation for the internet. Neither this, not SOPA are that piece of legislation. In fact, they are actively harmful to the consumer, and in the long term to the rights holders.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Fallout from which will only hurt others
The other is that the old business models are dead, hobbling the internet so that big media dosen't have to change its business models, is socialism for the wealthy.
[ link to this | view in thread ]