EFF opposes EU copyright move

The EFF is concerned about a number of measures in the draft of the Criminal Measures IP Directive. It argues that the legislators have failed to define their terms clearly enough and that they have introduced new offences that will harm legitimate businesses, The Register reports. It adds the so-called crime of \'aiding, abetting and inciting\' infringement takes aim at innovators, including open source coders, media-sharing sites and ISPs that refuse to block P2P services. \'With the new directive, music labels and Hollywood studios will push for the criminal prosecution of these innovators in Europe, saying their products \'incite\' piracy – with EU taxpayers covering the costs,\' a note on the EFF Copy Crime site says. While the draft excludes personal use of copyrighted material from the criminal sanctions of the Bill, the EFF is concerned that the definition of \'personal use\' versus \'commercial scale infringement\' is not defined clearly enough. Full report in The Register EFF Europe Copy Crime site

Meanwhile, Norway’s Liberty Party has backed the legalisation of the sharing of copyrighted material for personal use. The party resolution states: \'[T]oday\'s legal frameworks for copyrights are not adapted to a modern society.\' It added that large distributors and copyright holders often misuse copyright, stalling artistic development and innovation. Scandinavian countries are at the forefront of consumer opposition to the control exerted over material by copyright holding corporations, most commonly of music companies over music. In both Norway and Sweden consumer groups are taking action against restrictions on the use of music, Out-Law.com notes. The Consumer Council of Norway complained to the Consumer Ombudsman that Apple\'s licence terms for iTunes-bought music broke Norwegian consumer protection law, and the Ombudsman ruled against Apple. Full Out-Law.com report