There was a suggestion for a new law in Sweden recently, as I wrote here: https://gramtone.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/swedish-government-on-file-sharing/
Now it receieves serious critisism from a bunch of swedish IT-entrepreneurs. Among the relevant issues, they point at the web as a cooperational, social and highly interactive place where ideas, products and connections are shared all the time. The article writes that the politicians pretend as if Internet and digital technology does not change the world and they do a serious attempt to work against the unique qualities that the web has, that people generally love.
They want to give the industry the possibility to indentify and hunt people who share “wrong” files, to sue them. This is to help the industry to keep aged structures, business models and relations. A very relevant observation, that I can share.
One issue is that a hearing will take place in the Swedish parliment, 3 april. In the list of speakers, there are six representatives from the business, who wants harder sums against file sharing, for economical purposes. Two persons will point at the “consumers viewpoint”, but they are suspected as not being objective; one is general secretary for a government funded organisation, and one was part of the Renforsuntredningen – an inquiry about file sharing, where they suggested that a file sharer should get their connection closed down…
My opinion on this subject is that file sharing is unstoppable and it is not meaningful to try to stop the development. Everyone against this has to realize that we are on the way to a new society, a new age of enlightenment, to be a bit pompous. This will be a society where the web is central, with its incredible possibilities for democratic use and sharing of knowledge, ideas, material and products. As a music publisher, I need support to get the best from this development, not laws hindering my business. As a consumer, I want the possibility to enjoy what I like, and to support my favourite artists adn creators in a fair and just way.
Here is the critical article, but only in swedish: http://www.expressen.se/debatt/1.1106933/i-jakt-pa-fildelare-offras-medborgarnas-integritet