New Zealand ISP Boss Denounces Bad Copyright Law

from the good-for-them dept

While US ISPs apparently decided to capitulate to Hollywood (while the US government held a gun to their heads), at least some ISPs are speaking up about the ridiculousness of making ISPs copyright cops. The head of New Zealand's TelstraClear has denounced New Zealand's ridiculous new three strikes law.

“TelstraClear respects copyright and supports the ability of rights owners to realise value from their intellectual property. But a business model that has to be propped up by specific legislation in this way is flawed and needs to change,” Freeth said.

The new law will not help copyright owners defend their rights, he added. “It may encourage parents to take more notice of what their kids are doing online, and that’s a good thing. But it won’t stop those who really want content from getting it.”

Furthermore, he points out -- as we have over and over again -- that the way to deal with infringement is to actually compete and provide customers with what they want:

Freeth says that a 2009 TelstraClear survey showed that customers who download copyright content were not only “tired of paying too much, and waiting too long”, but viewed physical distribution models as outdated and out-of-touch.

“These are the opinions of the ‘now’ generation, and the growing population that has never experienced the world without a TV, the internet, and the freedom this offers,” he says.

“New Zealand’s distance from the source of much content has been conquered by online access, but simply making it available online while retaining old price structures and wait times doesn’t work.”

Separately, the study showed that there are ways to "compete" with unauthorized access, such as by "building a stronger direct connection between the artist and end-user to reduce the old-world overheads and online purchase price." Gee, where have we heard that before?

Filed Under: copyright, new zealand, three strikes
Companies: telstraclear