China Passes Internet Copyright Legislation

Turtlewind writes "According to the Peoples' Daily Online, the Chinese government has passed new legislation regarding copyright on the internet. As well as increasing the penalties for online infringement and forcing ISPs to remove illegal content if given written notice, the law also bans "the production, import and supply of devices capable of evading or breaching technical measures of copyright protection". While everyone wants to see China improving its enforcement of IP rights, is this a step too far?"

Comments

Everyone?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't think that's quite true.

Re:Everyone?

[ThePhilips]

The real question has China any will to enforce the law? Would anyone there cooperate with RIAA/MPAA as much as they do in EU/US?

No doubt many (me included) see the passed law only as a step needed to please World Trade Organization.

If by everyone, you mean some.

[expro]

While everyone wants to see China improving its enforcement of IP rights, is this a step too far?

If by everyone, you mean some, then you are right. You clearly do not speak for everyone or for me. There is great value in having diversity in laws in different areas of the world, it is sad to see freedoms lost, and it is obvious to me that China will borrow our worst policies, including DCMA-style anti-circumvention nonsense.

Re:If by everyone, you mean some.

[Ithika]

They are Communist, remember?

No, not really. Do you honestly think that the branches of McDonalds in Beijing are owned by the workers? Your naivete is touching.

Typo in summary

[gowen]

While everyone wants to see China improving its enforcement of IP human rights.

There, fixed it for you.

I couldn't give a damn about Chinese IP rights, but this action is rather indicative of where the pressure from the West is being directed. Our governments don't care if the Chinese people are oppresssed, as long as our corporations aren't getting ripped off.