p2p news / p2pnet: From January 1 next year, in Finland, "Distributing files over the Internet without permission will be forbidden. Even if the distribution was not done with the intent to earn, actions that violate copyright can be punished as copyright crimes."

This follows changes to the Finnish Copyright Act updated, "to take into account special issues related to the digital and network environment," says the Finland Weblog. "The reform will enact nationally the changes required by the copyright directive of 2001.

Under other changes:

"Copying by consumers for their own use will still be permitted. Downloading illicit material from the Internet will be prohibited. Making backup copies of computer programs will still be permitted as before.

"Possible copy protection in recordings may not be circumvented for making a copy.

"Obtaining user licences for mass use will be made easier by new licence agreement provisions. For instance, it will be possible to conclude an agreement with an organisation representing the copyright holders about the digital use of the material in teaching.

" Distribution of material using information networks will be the exclusive right of copyright holders (they have the right to decide on the form and terms of use). The right to decide on ‘on-demand’ communication to the public will also be given to performing artists (musicians, actors, etc.), phonogram and film producers, ra-dio and television companies and photographers.

" A copy of a work acquired for private use, as well as copies of work in the collec-tions of archives, libraries and museums, may be distributed further regardless of where it was obtained. Thus, the right to import audio records, books and comics from outside the EU for one’s own use remains unchanged."

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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win
- Mohandas Gandhi

Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local political representatives. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance.

See:-
Finland Weblog – Copyright Act and Penal Code to Be Amended, November 11, 2005

This entry was posted on Friday, November 11th, 2005 at 8:04 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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