European Commission: downloading pirated material should be legal

European Commission presented a draft of a legislation that would, in addition to the existing EUCD legislation, harmonize the European Union copyright legislation across the member states. The new proposal has already infuriated the record labels.

EC suggests tough legislation against use and download of pirated material for intentional business use or benefitting financially from copyright infringements. But the proposal would also make it perfectly legal for home users to download pirated music, videos and other intellectual property from P2P networks -- exactly how the legislation already states in various EU member countries, including Finland (the home of AfterDawn.com).

Recording industry had hoped that the proposed legislation would have made it illegal also for home users to download illegal material from the Net. In any case, sharing of the copyrighted material, even for home users, via P2P networks, web, etc would remain illegal.

More information: ITWorld.com

Written by: Petteri Pyyny @ 3 Feb 2003 13:45

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9 comments

loaded

This is a little like the 'You can smoke weed, but you can't sell weed' argument. It seems pedantic to me to differentiate between the two, as one would not exist without the other.

Paul.

Now ask yourself, does that make me less dangerous...or more dangerous?

3.2.2003 14:01 #1

msb5150

Makes me wish I were in Europe not in Texas, the state with the least ice hockey in the country, except maybe New Mexico

This is an amazingly imformative site with many places to find information and help. Please support it.

3.2.2003 14:37 #2

loaded

Ice hockey? Isn't that a little off topic?

Paul.

Now ask yourself, does that make me less dangerous...or more dangerous?

3.2.2003 14:42 #3

Ghostdog

Wait a minute, am I getting this right? The EU want�s to have strict legislation against businesses using pirated material, and other parties who can draw financial benefit from it, but they�ll allow home-users to download pirated material?

3.2.2003 21:32 #4

seanbyrne

I'd wonder if this affects Multimedia only or does this mean that downloading Photoshop for example would be as legal as downloading a freeware app such as The Gimp (freeware graphics app for Linux).

4.2.2003 01:34 #5

dRD

Ghostdog: That's correct. Just the way it has always been in Finland.

seanbyrne: Yes. But the fact remains that if you PRODUCE something with the downloaded Photoshop and use it for business purposes, you will face jail.

Petteri Pyyny
Webmaster
http://AfterDawn.com/

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4.2.2003 02:00 #6

Rodgers

Let's hear it for the home-users (that's me) and hurrah for Finland where the status is quo.

Best to All!

Rodgers

4.2.2003 03:50 #7

hoppers

I LOVE EUROPE
i think all the world sdhould be run by us!!!
it would solve alot of problems.

:)

All the best from Ireland!!

4.2.2003 05:18 #8

mystic

Eu has the right idea as long as its for personal use it should be fine ... most companys would benafit with a use it at home to learn then buy it for the office mentality but hey thats just my idea this would save companys money and have a better work force ...

4.2.2003 06:35 #9

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