92A: Termination should be off the table

Media release
10 June 2009

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand (Inc) today calls on the Minister of
Commerce, Simon Power, to make sure that the review of s92A of the
Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act does not repeat the mistakes
the previous law made.

“Termination should be off the table,” says InternetNZ Executive
Director Keith Davidson.

“Nobody condones copyright abuse, but the termination of a household or
business Internet account is totally out of proportion to the alleged
offence.

“If the aim of the review is to find a way to reduce people’s abuse of
copyright, it should legislate for a notice system where people who are
alleged to be infringing copyright get a notice educating them about the
problem.

“Overseas experience shows this cuts repeat infringement by around
three-quarters.

“92A was thrown out by the government after heated community reaction to
it. Any attempt to re-introduce this penalty will likely lead to the
same public response.

“Instead of trying for termination again, InternetNZ calls on the
government to choose a different solution based on notices – a solution
that will work for Kiwi Internet users. Only this approach fairly
balances copyright rights holder concerns with the public interest in
the ongoing development of a free and open Internet,” concludes Davidson.

ENDS

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