Today the swedish minister of justice and minister of culture writes about the governments ideas regarding file sharing, copyright and entertainment on the web. The main idea is that artists should have the right to get IP-addresses via courts, from the internet provider, if the artists find someone using their material illegally. This has lots of practical problems attached to it: How do you know who uses an IP-address in a company or a collective?
But there are some very good points made. Above all: The industry concerned must take its responsibility to develop. If the copyright is used to protect aged business models, it will be impossible to defend the copyright. Very well expressed!
Also, the “Renforsutredningen” which is an inquiry regarding file sharing, recommended that illegal file sharing should render the user’s internet connection to be blocked. I beleive that it is a dangerous and primitive way to go, which the minister of justice and minister of culture also identifies. This will not happen, luckily. Internet is becoming a central arena for citizens to be active in society. A block could be devastating for many, even if they act in illegal matters. I know some european countries have the option of blocking in the laws. That is something that society should be able to handle in more constructive ways.
Here is a link to the text, but only in swedish: http://www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/artikel_972903.svd
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