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European Commission: downloading pirated material should be legal

3 February 2003 13:45 by Petteri "dRD" Pyyny | 9 comments

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

Permalink to this article

Sweden to outlaw peer-to-peer file swapping (30 July 2003)

Sweden's EUCD proposal online (18 June 2003)

Finland kills EUCD -- for now (31 January 2003)

EUCD implementation delayed in most EU countries (17 December 2002)

Finnish government's proposal for EUCD implementation (10 October 2002)

EU allows simulcasting within EEA area with one license (8 October 2002)

Is DeCSS legal in your country? (13 August 2002)

UK Patent Office's preparations for EUCD are online (10 August 2002)

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Discuss this article!
loaded (Moderator) 3 February 2003 14:01
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? [ + quote]
msb5150 (Member) 3 February 2003 14:37
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. [ + quote]
loaded (Moderator) 3 February 2003 14:42
Ice hockey? Isn't that a little off topic? Paul. Now ask yourself, does that make me less dangerous...or more dangerous? [ + quote]
Ghostdog (Senior Member) 3 February 2003 21:32
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? [ + quote]
seanbyrne (Member) 4 February 2003 1:34
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). [ + quote]
dRD (I hate titles) 4 February 2003 2:00
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/ Please read our guides before posting questions! Guides are available here: http://www.afterdawn.com/articles/ [ + quote]
Rodgers (Inactive) 4 February 2003 3:50
Let's hear it for the home-users (that's me) and hurrah for Finland where the status is quo. Best to All! Rodgers [ + quote]
hoppers (Member) 4 February 2003 5:18
I LOVE EUROPE i think all the world sdhould be run by us!!! it would solve alot of problems. :) All the best from Ireland!! [ + quote]
mystic (Member) 4 February 2003 6:35
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 ... [ + quote]