Kiwis near top of piracy shame list

[p2p rules]

New Zealanders are among the worst illegal movie downloaders in the Asia-Pacific region, MPs considering legislation to kick repeat offenders off the internet were told yesterday.

But internet entrepreneur Lance Wiggs - who opposes suspension of internet services as an overly harsh penalty - believes it is the lack of reasonably priced legal movie download services that is driving illicit file sharing.

Yesterday, movie industry representatives appeared before Parliament's commerce committee in support of the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill, which seeks to tackle illegal file sharing including unauthorised movie downloads.

Under the legislation, illegal file sharers will receive warnings for their first two infringements. In the event of a third infringement, the owner of the copyrighted material will be able to seek a court order to suspend the offender's internet account.

nzherald.co.nz