Hell hath no fury like online geeks scorned. The internet community has been quick to express its outrage in the wake of the controversial Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill being passed into law.
Illegal file-sharers will receive warnings from their ISP for their first infringements. If the warnings are ignored, a
fine up to $15,000 can result, and repeat offenders can have their internet account suspended for six months.
Unsurprisingly, most of the anger at the new law has been expressed on the internet. Social media sites such as Twitter have been filled with cries of complaint, the infamous 2009 "blackout" protest has been repeated, and MPs who supported the bill have been lampooned.
But really, it's hard to see where those complaining are coming from. The law targets illegal file-sharing. Emphasis on "illegal".
Those members of society who restrain themselves from the temptation to illegally download copyrighted material have nothing to fear.
As with all things in life, if you break the law, there are consequences. It happens when we get behind the wheel of a car. If you drink and drive, and get caught, you lose your lincence.
Why should internet users be any different? If anything, the new law is overly generous in allowing two warnings before the offender can have internet access removed.
It's hard to imagine the local dairy owner giving two free chances to the teenager he's just caught swiping cigarettes from his store.
Those who sit behind their computer screens and illegally download copyrighted material may well tell themselves it's a victimless crime.
In reality, they're deluding themselves - the sad state of CD sales, not just in New Zealand but across the world, is proof of this.
The issue has further been muddied by Parliament passing the law while sitting under urgency to pass legislation helping the rebuild of Christchurch.
While moves to quickly help Christchurch get back on its feet should be supported, a new law dealing with something as ingrained in modern culture as the internet is not one to be rushed through, and only serves to add to public suspicion over Government motives while distracting from the issue it's designed to address.
In any event, it remains to be seen whether the new law will actually stop illegal file-sharing.
Frankly, we doubt it.
