Europeans Propose Bill Making File-Sharing by Individuals Legal

[JackSpratts]

Only commercial piracy is criminal
Joris Evers

The European Commission has presented a draft directive that punishes copyright infringement for commercial purposes, but leaves the home music downloader untouched, infuriating the entertainment industry.

The proposed directive is meant to harmonize intellectual property rights enforcement laws in the 15-nation European Union (EU). It aims to strike "a fair balance" between interests of right holders and the opportunities the Internet offers to consumers, according to Commission documents.

Criminal sanctions apply only when copyright infringement is carried out intentionally and for commercial purposes, the Commission said.

A consortium of industry groups, including representatives of the tech industry as well as music companies, declared the proposal "inadequate."

They still have time to lobby for tougher sanctions. The Commission's draft directive has to pass the European Parliament and the European Union's Council of Ministers before it is officially adopted.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,109148,00.asp

- js.

[TankGirl]

Now that is a very sane proposition, something that 99 % of people would gladly accept as the new policy.

Coming from an authorative political entity it is meaningful even as a proposition. The more public discussion on the issue, the less room for the industrial lobbyists to 'persuade' politicians behind the scenes. And should Europe explicitely legalize non-commercial filesharing, it is very hard to see how the RIAA and the MPAA could keep forcing artificial scarcity on Americans.

A good development. Thanks for the story, Jack.

- tg

[theknife]

"The proposal creates a two-tier system of enforcement where some types of piracy are acceptable and others not," the industry organizations said.

Exactly

[JackSpratts]

really.

selling is piracy.

sharing is...

cool!

- js.

[SA_Dave]

Originally posted by JackSpratts
really.

selling is piracy.

sharing is...

cool!

- js.

They seem to consider advertising to be "selling" as well.

Peer-to-peer file-sharing services that encourage copyright infringement and make money from advertising are commercial, according to the Commission. "That is illegal and should be stopped," the Commission said. Examples of such file- sharing services are Kazaa and Morpheus.

What about companies that make money from selling "Pro" versions, such as Limewire and eDonkey? Many of the more popular applications are ad-supported, but not necessarily obscenely profitable. I think that's where the distinction lies, at least in their eyes.

[nanook]

another excellent article, Jack.......as always

i always hated being called a "pirate".
i had always thought it was "piracy" when money was made and exchanged.
doing it for a profit.
which we don't.
i really do consider it sharing.
even though i don't know any of the people i share my music with,
some of them do become "online" friends.
and i don't need them to define my term of "friends".