EC considers new copyright laws

Any IT company can be penalized if their network, application software or online service is found to be used to transfer pirated content.

It is the content of a new bill recently submitted to the European Commission by a parliamentary committee.

The bill moved the end user's responsibility to "play" the network, including ISPs, mobile phone, instant messaging, sharing online video images. and open source software manufacturers.

Therefore, the draft law does not receive wide support. Not only that, it also contributes to linking IT industry rivals and open source supporters into an alliance called "Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure" (Association for an infrastructure of Free information) to fight against the bill above.

Opponents of the bill argue that its provisions will lend a hand to illegal copying and content piracy.

One reason the association is concerned is that the bill ignores copyright inspection. The draft before submitting to the EC included copyright issues but the committee of legal issues decided to remove the copyright issue in the bill before submitting a European parliament.

" We welcome the removal of copyright issues in the bill, but we do not agree with the retention of encouraging terms ," said Francisco Mingorance - European Regional Manager. of the World Software Association (BSA) - said.

" The terms are really a threat to the IT industry ," said Ante Wessels, an FFII analyst. " The bill will affect the freedom in software design. "

The aforementioned provisions will allow content copyright holders to sue anyone who helps convey content that violates rights. The Commission on Legal Issues has agreed to eliminate copyright infringement in the case of individuals copying copyrighted content for personal use.

According to the committee, cases considered to be copyright infringement are cases of intentional use of counterfeit use for commercial use.

The World Software Association supports this clause and believes it will help reduce illegal downloading of content on the Internet.

Meanwhile, the Film Industry Association is trying to lobby to allow them the right to sue any individual who has committed illegal copying.

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