New Zealand Halts Internet Copyright Law Changes

phobonetik writes "The New Zealand Prime Minister announced his Government will throw out the controversial Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment (New Technologies) Act and start again. The proposed law changes contained 'guilty upon accusation, without appeal' clauses and heavy compliance costs to ISPs and businesses. The changes were hours away from being signed but a series of online protests, a petition on Government grounds, as well as public rebuttal by a large ISP and by Google contributed to the Government changing course and respecting the wishes of the IT industry."

Comments

Re:Industry?

[sakdoctor]

That would require a ridiculously complex system of checks and balances.

Totalitarianism is better because it's easy. You just slide down the hill.

Re:Industry?

[getuid()]

people> What about the wishes of the, um you know... people?
govm't> Yeah, what about them?
people> Well, they should be... respected or something.
govm't> Why?
people> You know... the constitution and all that... that says that goverment is elected by the people, ...
govm't> Well, government *is* elected by the people.
people> ...then, aren't you supposed to do as we say?
govm't> Nope, not really. Why?
people> Y'know, the constitution...
govm't> What about the constitution?
people> Well, it says you're not supposed to do the things you're just doing. So...
govm't> So?
people> So stop doing it.
govm't> Why?
people> Because the constitution...
govm't> ...I don't care about the constituion. Go shove it.
people> But you're supposed to, or...
govm't> Or what?

Cheques and balances

[tepples]

That would require a ridiculously complex system of checks and balances.

Easy: Lobbyist writes check, bank increases elected official's campaign committee's balance.

Why "liberate" AU when NZ is the target

[tepples]

I know it's not easy but:
Australia != New Zealand

Then allow me to rephrase: Good Lord, it sounds like we need to invade and liberate Australia to set up a base from which to threaten New Zealand.

Re:Merry-go-round

[cbiltcliffe]

Political job security.....

War won in the Pacific, next: liberate France

[Nicolas MONNET]

We're facing an uphill battle. The evil forces of Sarkozy-Universal are occupying the territory; they will probably be stopped by the European Parliament, but there will be much blood.

In any case, that's good news from NZ, something for the resistance forces to use during the upcoming parliamentary debates.

Re:Merry-go-round

[Midnight Thunder]

Seems like every other day now a new crazy law is put in place, just to be repealed a week later. What is this, a circus?

Lets take a comparative approach to this:

Circus: has people jumping through hoops
Government: has people jumping through hoops

Circus: clowns are involved
Government: people act as clowns

Circus: charges for entry
Government: charges taxes

Circus: some people are frightened by the clowns
Government: some people are frightened by the people acting acting as clowns

I can quite understand the misunderstanding.