I'm almost ready to move to Sweden....
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6893.cfm
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/10/05/180216.shtml?tid=17&tid=219
http://www.effi.org/tekijanoikeus/laki/index.en.html
Main points: (quoted from afterdawn)
Circumventing copy protections, even for personal use, will be illegal. (it states so in the law, even tho the government tried to argue that the right wont be pursued by government, but nothing stops record labels, movie studios, etc to do so)
Distributing (even for free) tools (whether physical devices or software) that allow circumventing copy protection mechanisms will be illegal. (this includes DVD rippers, tools that allow copying copy-protected CDs, etc)
Advertising tools that allow circumventing copy protection mechanisms will be illegal. (and the law doesn't state how advertising is determined. So, basically simply linking to a page that has DVD ripper downloads from your own site can be considered "advertising")
Possession of tools that allow circumventing copy protection mechanisms will be illegal. Even for personal use.
Guides on how to circumvent copy protection mechanisms can be considered as "tools" and thus are also illegal.
Worryingly, even "organized discussion" on how to circumvent copy protection mechanisms, will be illegal. (and no, Finland doesn't have similar to American Supreme Court that determines whether laws are against constitution, but when laws are approved, they by default are in harmony with constitution and can't be later overturned on basis that they are un-constitutional)
Humorously, this new legislation states that it is a lesser offence to download a copy protected cd (cd is the wrong term here I know, no idea what to call cd shaped media with copyprotection) than to rip one you have legally bought.
If you'd follow this legislation to the letter...Linux would be illegal (funny that Linux was started by a Finn...) and a lot of other BS things..
Not to mention the EEA statute, which makes distributing works not published in the European Economic Area illegal in the EEA, unless they have been acquired for personal use. No more import manga from stores if the publisher overseas decides that the market in Finland is too small. With somewhat over 5 million people...you can imagine the market size in Finland...
In the end...a list of crimes that have maximum sentence of one year..
* Circumventing a copy-protection mechanism in order to copy the work or in a manner which "otherwise causes notable damage".
* Distributing/selling/renting/advertising a device for circumventing copy-protection mechanisms (a DeCSS shirt qualifies).
* Publishing a method for circumventing copy protection (such as pressing the shift-key). (it is not yet a law so I guess I can write this sentence??)
And the maximum sentence is the same for...
* Insurance fraud.
* Breaching a restraining order.
* Prison escape.
* Using counterfeit money.
* Buying sex from a minor.
* Possession of child pornography.
I know I won't buy any cd's or DVD's this xmas...and it is a good thing that I know who voted for and against this legislation. That information will come in handy in the future.
//Kee
ps. sorry about the rant...just a bit pissed
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/6893.cfm
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/10/05/180216.shtml?tid=17&tid=219
http://www.effi.org/tekijanoikeus/laki/index.en.html
Main points: (quoted from afterdawn)
Circumventing copy protections, even for personal use, will be illegal. (it states so in the law, even tho the government tried to argue that the right wont be pursued by government, but nothing stops record labels, movie studios, etc to do so)
Distributing (even for free) tools (whether physical devices or software) that allow circumventing copy protection mechanisms will be illegal. (this includes DVD rippers, tools that allow copying copy-protected CDs, etc)
Advertising tools that allow circumventing copy protection mechanisms will be illegal. (and the law doesn't state how advertising is determined. So, basically simply linking to a page that has DVD ripper downloads from your own site can be considered "advertising")
Possession of tools that allow circumventing copy protection mechanisms will be illegal. Even for personal use.
Guides on how to circumvent copy protection mechanisms can be considered as "tools" and thus are also illegal.
Worryingly, even "organized discussion" on how to circumvent copy protection mechanisms, will be illegal. (and no, Finland doesn't have similar to American Supreme Court that determines whether laws are against constitution, but when laws are approved, they by default are in harmony with constitution and can't be later overturned on basis that they are un-constitutional)
Humorously, this new legislation states that it is a lesser offence to download a copy protected cd (cd is the wrong term here I know, no idea what to call cd shaped media with copyprotection) than to rip one you have legally bought.
If you'd follow this legislation to the letter...Linux would be illegal (funny that Linux was started by a Finn...) and a lot of other BS things..
Not to mention the EEA statute, which makes distributing works not published in the European Economic Area illegal in the EEA, unless they have been acquired for personal use. No more import manga from stores if the publisher overseas decides that the market in Finland is too small. With somewhat over 5 million people...you can imagine the market size in Finland...
In the end...a list of crimes that have maximum sentence of one year..
* Circumventing a copy-protection mechanism in order to copy the work or in a manner which "otherwise causes notable damage".
* Distributing/selling/renting/advertising a device for circumventing copy-protection mechanisms (a DeCSS shirt qualifies).
* Publishing a method for circumventing copy protection (such as pressing the shift-key). (it is not yet a law so I guess I can write this sentence??)
And the maximum sentence is the same for...
* Insurance fraud.
* Breaching a restraining order.
* Prison escape.
* Using counterfeit money.
* Buying sex from a minor.
* Possession of child pornography.
I know I won't buy any cd's or DVD's this xmas...and it is a good thing that I know who voted for and against this legislation. That information will come in handy in the future.
//Kee
ps. sorry about the rant...just a bit pissed
