European Commission: downloading pirated material should be legal

Written by Petteri Pyyny @ 03 Feb 2003 1:45 User comments (9)

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

<RIAJ wins its court battle against Japanese P2P company >Finnish subtitle site was forced to close

9 user comments

13.2.2003 14:01

loaded

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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.

23.2.2003 14:37

msb5150

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

33.2.2003 14:42

loaded

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

43.2.2003 21:32

Ghostdog

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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?

54.2.2003 01:34

seanbyrne

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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).

64.2.2003 02:00

dRD

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I hate titles

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.

74.2.2003 03:50

Rodgers

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

84.2.2003 05:18

hoppers

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I LOVE EUROPE i think all the world sdhould be run by us!!! it would solve alot of problems. :) All the best from Ireland!!

94.2.2003 06:35

mystic

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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 ...

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European Commission: downloading pirated material should be legal

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