copyright Archive

  • Gareth Hughes

    SOPA: Web victory or strategic withdrawal? - by Gareth Hughes



    It was incredibly inspiring to see the Internet mobilise to oppose the two draconian online copyright bills going through the US House and Senate. Whilst it was a victory it’s still too early to see if it will be enduring read more
    January 24, 2012 2:39 pm - 5 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Trans Pacific Partnership to impact Kiwi books - by Gareth Hughes



    According to a leaked draft of the proposed intellectual property chapter, the TPP would require countries (such as Canada, Japan and New Zealand) that meet the international copyright term (standard of life of the author plus 50 years) to add an additional 20 years to the term of protection. read more
    January 24, 2012 11:34 am - 21 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Internet goes on strike (why this blog is black) - by Gareth Hughes



    The Green Party is blacking out their website for an hour today to protest the Stop Internet Piracy (SOPA) and PROTECT IP (PIPA) Acts currently debated in the US because of its impacts on New Zealanders access to a free and open Internet and online businesses. read more
    January 18, 2012 10:40 am - 18 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    More problems with Skynet - by Gareth Hughes



    It is becoming more apparent every day that providing legal alternatives to file-sharing would have been more effective, easier and cheaper than the cumbersome, complex and ultimately futile Skynet Law. read more
    January 10, 2012 2:40 pm - 11 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Swiss copyright report on time - by Gareth Hughes



    The Swiss Government has just completed a new copyright report where the overall conclusion is that the current copyright law, under which downloading copyrighted material for personal use is permitted, doesn’t have to change. As Cory Doctorow points out “It’s a rare victory for evidence-based policy in a world dominated by shrill assertions of lost [...] read more
    December 6, 2011 9:52 am - 7 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Controversial ACTA to be signed this weekend - by Gareth Hughes



    This weekend, the Key Government is yet again putting our country’s sovereignty on the line by signing up to the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in Japan. Until recently, this international agreement had been negotiated entirely in secret despite huge concerns about sovereignty and copyright law. However, active campaigning and a great deal of leaked [...] read more
    September 28, 2011 4:43 pm - 2 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Pirates in Parliament - by Gareth Hughes



    Fifteen Pirate Party MPs were just elected in Berlin State, Germany. Will we ever see the skull and cross-bones flag flying over the Beehive and what does it all mean for politics? read more
    September 25, 2011 11:27 am - 20 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Skynet goes live - by Gareth Hughes



    Today the Copyright (Infringing File-Sharing) Act, or better know as the Skynet law goes live. From today copyright holders can detect people illegally sharing files like movies online and send notices through the infringers ISP with a ‘third-strike’ leading to up-to $15,000 fines and possible internet termination if enacted. The law was controversially passed under [...] read more
    September 1, 2011 4:05 pm - 3 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Right Wing Resistance salutes Skynet law - by Gareth Hughes



    The racist/fascist group Right Wing Resistance have thrown their support behind the copyright infringement act that fully comes into force as of tomorrow. In an email sent out to their membership list the RWR people point out that, “A new law passed by government which has been nicknamed the skynet law. Can work in our [...] read more
    August 29, 2011 3:08 pm - 36 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Nationwide protests against Skynet - by Gareth Hughes



    Tomorrow there are protests planned in our big cities against the controversial Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Act, the so-called Skynet law that comes into force from 1 September. read more
    August 26, 2011 8:36 pm - 2 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    NetHui - by Gareth Hughes



    Today I’m back again at the Nethui conference, which is bringing together a wide variety of people involved with internet issues. It’s the only conference I’ve been at where I feel comfortable tapping away at my laptop and Blackberry, because everyone else seems to be. I just feel left out not having an iPad. Interestingly, [...] read more
    June 30, 2011 9:24 am - 6 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Double double-standards on internet termination? - by Gareth Hughes



    Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maryan Street is criticising National for their double standard of supporting strong statements at the UN against internet termination whilst bringing in the ‘Skynet’ Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Act that allows it locally, an issue I blogged on earlier in the week. Labour says: [the Act]…allows the Government by Order in [...] read more
    June 17, 2011 1:23 pm - 5 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    UN: Internet termination breaches human rights - by Gareth Hughes



    One of the main reasons the Green Party opposed the new controversial file-sharing law passed under urgency was that it still contained internet termination as a potential remedy. I argued at the time it was disproportionate, wouldn’t work, and took away a modern human right. More and more of our democracy, interaction with Government departments, [...] read more
    June 4, 2011 5:38 pm - 29 Comments
  • frog

    Podcast: why you should care about the file sharing law - by frog



    In this podcast, Green Party ICT Spokesperson Gareth Hughes talks about the new file sharing law – what it means, why non-nerds should be worried about it too, and what can be done from here. read more
    May 27, 2011 11:56 am - 3 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    File-sharing politics online - by Gareth Hughes



    Last night I hosted a very successful online public meeting to talk about the new online copyright changes. It was great to use web streaming technology to host a meeting that meant people from across the country could tune in, but most importantly meant people could make comments, discuss and ask questions online in real [...] read more
    May 26, 2011 5:28 pm - 6 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Digital copyright debated in the House and online - by Gareth Hughes



    It was a privilege to speak in Parliament last night and oppose the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill that passed this morning under urgency. It was also a fun debate, with some hilarious gaffes made by National MPs who got their inter-webs mixed up with their Skynets that have been immortalised in online parodies. [...] read more
    April 14, 2011 2:13 pm - 19 Comments
  • Gareth Hughes

    Digital copyright and suspending suspension - by Gareth Hughes



    I may be a geek, but not the type that can fix your computer. I love technology, and even though I haven’t had a huge history of looking into tech and copyright issues, I really enjoyed hearing submissions on the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill. The Bill essentially sets out a three-strike “notice and [...] read more
    November 3, 2010 1:42 pm - 48 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    Google slates section 92(a) - by Metiria Turei



    Google has come out in opposition to s92A. They say that section 92a of the Copyright Act would undermine the “incredible social and economic benefits” of the internet and was disproportionate to the problem it aimed to address. Oh yes indeed and more.  The law as drafted requires ISPs to act as internet police and [...] read more
    March 16, 2009 2:00 pm - 7 Comments
  • Metiria Turei

    ISP’s are not cheap bullyboys for BigCorps - by Metiria Turei



    News that Telstra Clear has pulled out of the code of practice being drafted by the Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF) shows that the whole proposal for a code on the back of the draconian s92A, legislation was doomed to fail. Telstra rightly opposed the law and and have decided they can’t continue to support it, [...] read more
    March 12, 2009 9:07 am - 7 Comments
  • frog

    Dylan Horrocks Cartoon: S92A Copyright Blackout - by frog



    I found this gem over at Scoop. I think Dylan captures the essence of the debate! In the meantime, the open water beckons… Scoop’s full coverage of the s92(a) blackout can be found here. read more
    February 22, 2009 10:11 am - 44 Comments
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