Vision needed on copyright - not quick fix
National has missed an opportunity to show some long term vision on the vexed issue of copyright infringements, Labour communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran said.
“The Government’s Section 92A Review Policy Proposal Document released today is a stop gap measure which does not address the underlying issues around copyright infringement,” Clare Curran said.
“The review raises more questions than answers and leaves the thorny issue of punitive measures for alleged copyright infringement up in the air. The government has tried to please all stakeholders but is likely to please no one.
“By combining a notice and notice regime with a fines or termination policy and involving a third party, the Copyright Tribunal, the government is attempting to appease rights holders and internet service providers (ISPs).
“A termination policy is unlikely to work. International attempts to introduce similar policies haven’t worked to date.
“While the involvement of a third party, the Copyright Tribunal, to resolve copyright issues and adjudicate on them is welcome, there is no detail about how this would work.
“It appears that the government has re-written Section 92A by softening its initial thrust, but essentially retaining its ability to terminate a subscriber’s internet account and transferring the power to do that to a third party, which may or may not be resourced adequately.
“The government has ignored the advice of stakeholders and the Labour Party to take a wider look at the issues.
“Labour believes the intention of law to protect copyright in the digital age should be without negative or unintended consequences.
“There is an enormous opportunity for government to use its powers to aid the development of new institutional structures,” Clare Curran said.
“The first big step is commitment to educating the public about why copyright is important.
“Simply rewriting Section 92A, resulting in a flood of complaints and alleged infringements and allowing for the ability to cut off the internet account is just short-sighted and a quick-fix measure.
