NZ file-sharing law

[CQ1ST]

So New Zealand (where I live) has just passed a new file-sharing law called the "3 strikes law", which gives copyright-holders more power to stop (+fine) file-sharers.
The way they're doing this is joining bittorrent swarms from sites like thepiratebay and isohunt.com (also gnutella?), collecting NZ ip-addresses and 'proof' files, and then making local ISP's send warning letters to the perpetrators. They'll send 2 letters, 28 days apart, warning perps to stop, and then (obviously, with 2 more 'proofs') they'll summon the perp to a copyright tribunal where they'll fine them up to $15,000.

There's been protests in our major cities, and alot of people say that the law won't work and that the "account holder" being held accountable for "anyone" using their ip address is just plain unfair (we're talking about unsecured wifi - which is still widespread here, tween/teen family members, and wifi-hotspots)

[Artemis]

Ahhhh another Kiwi. Not only that but the new law puts the burden of proof on the subscriber, all the copyright holder has to do is accuse in order for these warnings to be sent out, the fines and termination of subscriber service become automatic, so it is a kind of Kangaroo court. It is also interesting that this law is yet another one enacted under the emergency session which was convened to cut through the bureaucratic redtape and get the laws through parliament to aid in the rebuilding of Christchurch, yet since then over 403 laws have been passed under urgency, most having little to do with earthquake recovery. This law was passed two weeks ago with no public consultation and is now in effect.

[CQ1ST]

!arseholes!