A controversial new anti-piracy law has been signed, with Swedish lawmakers implying they will not stop the law from going into effect in April 2009.
Specifically, the Lagrådet Legislative Council will make it easier for copyright holders, such as the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), to receive court orders forcing Internet service providers (ISPs) to hand over information based solely on an IP address.
Before that can be done, the copyright holder must prove that a user tied to an IP address shared copyrighted content with other users. Gathered evidence can be used to either seek monetary damages or show that copyright law has been broken by a specific computer user.
"These laws are written by digital illiterates who behave like blindfolded, drunken elephants trumpeting about in an egg packaging facility," Swedish Pirate Party Chairman Rick Falkvinge told TorrentFreak. "They have no idea how much damage they're causing, because they lack today's literacy: an understanding of how the Internet is reshaping the power structure at their core."
The bill must now be presented to Parliament. Sweden is home of The Pirate Bay, and a throng of pro-piracy legislators who will likely put up a strong fight against the bill.
Even though it sounds easy, due to archaic evidence gathering and false or factually wrong accusations, it'll be interesting to see how this Swedish law plays out in April 2009 and beyond.
Reactions: 1004
Forumposts: 1
Karma: 20090 , Mon 27 Oct 2008 19:29
Looks like the jig's up, boys. Time to stop pirating.
time to stop pirating?! man better stop smoking that wacky weed. put up all the barriers you like the pirates always find a detour. stopping piracy is like stopping the internet, possible but very unlikely.
ha, nothing will ever stop it.
This greater impact of law like this isn't about piracy at all. The right of all citizens to a fair trial is at stake; innocent-until-proven-guilty is a fundemental principle of law. When guilt is the presumption, we all suffer.
Beginning of the end of the anarchy that is plauging the internet?
Reactions: 6
Forumposts: 0
Karma: 120 , Tue 28 Oct 2008 00:23
I wonder if the bill isn't just 'cosmetic', they're under pressure over there to do something. The Sweds are very bright people, wonder what their government is like?
"The right of all citizens to a fair trial is at stake; innocent-until-proven-guilty is a fundemental principle of law."
You haven't noticed, then, that this is already not the case and arguably has never been the case in most societies that ever existed, including up until now?
I don't like draconian methods but some opposition to such methods do a good job of ruining their arguments by overstating, like the quote in this news piece about elephants. If you want to offend them and HELP THEIR GOAL go ahead. Some of us prefer to stay a little more realistic and informed and make intelligent statements that might actually win some people over.
I think this is just an attempt by the Swedish government to make it look like they are actually wanting to try and stop piracy.
I'm super curious to see how this plays out, as The Pirate Bay and other groups are very organized and very popular in Sweden.
If this is a serious attempt to nip piracy in the bud, I think Sweden will quickly find out that very little can stop it.
