Earthquake emergency drives Kiwi copyright bill The New Zealand government has outraged internet users by rushing through a new anti-P2P copyright bill under cover of an emergency session of Parliament. Parliament had been called to deal with the country's Christchurch earthquake. During the session, it also pushed through its file-sharing bill under an "urgency" motion. …
There is immense pressure being applied to introduce a "Free Trade Agreement" between the USA and New Zealand. As part of the negotiations, those who really hold the power in the US (not the politicians) are insisting that New Zealand implement just these sorts of draconian copyright protection mechanisms.
This will all end in tears, of course - and result in far from free trade!
One major lobby group on the US side is the pharma industry, who have fought for years to try and jack their prices waaaaay up here in New Zealand. On the side of the New Zealand consumer is Pharmac who has pushed the price of drugs for NZ consumers way down, mainly by sourcing, or threatening to source, generic drugs. For all their faults, Pharmac has done a good job - and here we go, further empowering the crazy over the top copyright and patent protection stance of US big business.
The current crop of NZ politicos are even worse than normal, and we the people will suffer for it.
Is it the first anniversary of the UK Digital Economy Bill already? Do they have a House of Lords in Kiwiland too? And do their Lords also take suitcases of cash to pass whatever law you ask them to pass?
When I'll be rich, I'll pay the Lords to pass a law that will require all motor vehicles to be pink. Not because I have a good reason for it, but just to assert my power. Being rich must be so much fun!
I hope those greedy pigfuckers in Hollywood and the politicians that they own in NZ are happy. They have managed to corrupt the democratic process on the back of grieving New Zealanders and others that lost their relatives in Christchurch.
Just how low will some people stoop to make money. These bastards could limbo under a pole that's nailed to the floor.
(and if the Moderatrix passes this I shall be amazed)
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