New NZ copyright law inhibits blogging
2009 January 14
Adam has had some emails about why his last couple of cartoons of the day have been links.
Well frankly, despite the fact that he has referenced the source he is concerned that he might be breaching the new law on copyright in NZ.
The potentially draconian implications of no internet access based on accusation are just not acceptable.
This is a non-commercial blog, which Adam runs for the benefit of his readers and his own amusement/ego.
Overall he suspects that he adds to the readership of the publications he references rather than reduces them.
I wondered why you were giving links rather than the cartoons I enjoy so much.
I’m always careful to attribute and where applicable link to anything I copy (and I know that people click on the links so the site gets more traffic) but that may not be good enough under the new law.
Remember also, that the clause in the act you are discussing popped up in the bill after the select committee report and before the bill received it’s second reading. The minister responsible was the former member for Auckland Central.
Hear Hear.
I am beginning to wonder though whether this law is an attempt to limit free speech.
I doubt it would be allowed in the US.
This is why I think we need a robust and written constitution.
On the letters given that they were written for publication, I hope I am moral ground at least as the original author wanted publicity and I think I am in the realms of fair comment.
For anything that is publicly accessible on a website, I don’t think that you are running foul of the law, as long as you attribute the source. You have to get three warnings anyway, so you can always switch to links only, if you get warned off.
Those excellent letters you copy from the newspapers are slightly more iffy. However, I can’t imagine any sane person objecting to them, considering they advertise their newspaper and does not impinge on their circulation in any way.
I fully intend to ignore the new law until I get my first warning letter!