KEY POINTS:
A new copyright law will leave internet users vulnerable to accusations of piracy and should be discarded, United Future leader Peter Dunne says.
Late last month the Government said it was keeping a watching brief on the new copyright law and was open to changes if it did not work, but would not dump it before it comes into effect on February 28.
Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce said he was keeping a close eye on how section 92A of the Copyright Act worked.
The section will see people's internet connections "cut on unproven accusations of piracy", Mr Dunne said today.
"All of us who brought in this Act last year believed we were protecting artists from piracy and illegal downloads.
"However, it is now clear that we have a situation where internet users are vulnerable to the mere accusation of piracy, and that is simply neither fair nor just."
The Government should defer the section's implementation for three to six months with a view to discarding it, Mr Dunne said.
He said British and European governments recently rejected similar laws.
The Internet Service Providers Association (Ispanz) has also called on the Government to drop the changes before they came into effect saying the law was poorly constructed and would force ISPs to cut off the internet access of those accused of repeat infringement of copyright.
- NZPA
