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US Offered To Draft NZ 3-Strikes Law, Fund Copyright Initiative

An anonymous reader writes "Wikileaks has just posted hundreds of cables from US personnel in New Zealand that reveal regular government lobbying on copyright, offers to draft New Zealand three-strikes-and-you're-out legislation, and a recommendation to spend over NZ$500,000 to fund a recording industry-backed IP enforcement initiative. The funding raises the question of whether New Zealand is aware that local enforcement initiatives, including raids and court cases, have been funded by the US government."

8 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. See ? by unity100 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I told before that, if you allow private interests take helm in one country, they spread their filth EVERYwhere. see there's the proof.

    1. Re:See ? by cpghost · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The US Government is the best government (RIAA-)money can buy. Nothing new here...

      --
      cpghost at Cordula's Web.
    2. Re:See ? by Luckyo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Most people seem to miss the reason why this will NEVER be allowed and nipped in the bud.

      Entertainment is the best, most functional propaganda arm of both capitalist system, and "american way". Abroad it has successfully advertised US system as working and US itself as a desirable. At the same time at home keeps US population itself pacified when its right are being trampled.

      Do not underestimate the power of projected crowd control that entertainment industry is generating. For that reason alone, both government and current powerful interests will make sure key companies in entertainment industry will always remain in hands of those who will use them for their interests.

  2. Re:Come on. by Ant+P. · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What makes you think america gets to be imperialists? You are just another land the corporations own.

  3. Wow! by DaMattster · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are citizens suffering here in the states from unemployment and inept government that hasn't been able to turn the country around. The ineptness is both democrat and republican alike. The government is under a budget crunch and we are spending money in New Zealand over something so stupid as copyright law when research to show that major media companies were losing money over piracy. This whole thing makes me sick. Perhaps, the U.S. is now going to meet the same fate as Rome. Be ready for the dark ages.

    1. Re:Wow! by SuricouRaven · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Of course it won't be enforced. Microsoft is too sensible for that. They'll just use it to harass small companies who can't afford a decade-long legal battle.

  4. Re: Enforce them for you by Seumas · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You spelled 'liberation' wrong. :P

  5. Re:I'm outraged! by clang_jangle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Corporations ARE people. They are deemed artificial persons with all the Constitutional protections and rights of 'real' people (and the added benefits of a corporation, to boot). The SCOTUS has upheld this in their previous decisions.

    Words on paper do not have the power to redefine reality. Corporations are *not* people. SCOTUS is corrupt and their rulings mean nothing IRL. The fact that so many people tolerate this kind of silly word juggling doesn't help, either.
    ***glare***

    --
    Caveat Utilitor