Swedish Politicians Strike Blows at Copyright Lobby
Written by Ben Jones on January 10, 2008Last week, seven Swedish MPs wrote to a prominent Swedish tabloid newspaper ‘Expressen’ to express their dissatisfaction with proposals for dealing with copyright infringers. Now, that number has increased to 13, and the issue seems to keep growing.
Initially, Karl Sigfrid, and 6 other MPs [Members of Parliament] wrote to Expressen (Swedish, English) to express their opposition to a plan proposed by Cecilia Renfors, a copyright analyst appointed by the Swedish government, in what Expressen called “Seven MPs defy the party line: Legalizing file sharing is not just the best solution, but the only solution”. Her plan was that ISPs would close down the connections of filesharers, preventing them from participating in any further copyright infringement. The condemnation for this was broad-based, from the Data inspection Board, the Competition Authority, all the way to the Swedish court of Appeal.
The message from the Moderate Party MPs to their Antipiratbyrån supporting colleagues was “be careful, they will never be satisfied”, drawing parallels to the earlier attempts to ban MP3 players, and VCRs, both areas in which, having failed to ban, industry groups are now making a profit from selling content.
Karl Sigfrid told TorrentFreak that the APB proposals make no practical sense. “I think it could be solved in theory. However, in reality, you would need such a surveillance system to achieve this that it would be all out of proportion. So I don’t think there’s a feasilbe way of stopping individuals copying. The cause for file sharing is basically that it’s possible. People have always done it to the extent that they’ve been able to. With cassette tapes 20 years ago and electronically today. Copyright laws preventing individuals from sharing information have never been legitimate in the eyes of most people.”
When asked about if it was down to content industries being slow to change their business practices, he replied: “It’s hard to say what would have happened if the content industries had been quicker releasing their material online, before the P2P networks grew mainstream. Probably the illegal filesharing would be less extensive, but it’s possible that it would still have been increasingly difficult for iTunes and such services to compete with free downloading. The change needed might be so radical that it’s no longer about selling copies of immaterial products at all.”
Rickard Falkvinge, of the Swedish Pirate Party was understandably upbeat about it. “Karl Sigfrid’s taking a stand marks a major turning point. For the first time, an established politician shows deep-down understanding of the real conflict, instead of cluelessly humming along with a technophobical luddite industry. Some other Swedish mainstream politicians have previously talked in terms of how it’s unreasonable to declare war on an entire generation. Sigfrid is the first to understand why.” His enthusiasm is understandable as, one Swedish torrent user put it “a bunch of members of The Conservative Party have started listening to the policies of The Pirate Party, and they want to jump on their bandwagon, as it’s gaining popularity”.
Gaining popularity it is, as yesterday, thirteen members of Parliament joined in another attack (Swedish only, no English translation at present) on the likes of the APB, and recording industries, saying “The record labels are obviously opposed to a development that makes them obsolete.” However, not everyone has been celebrating. Pirate Bay administrator Brokep was skeptical, saying “I’m intrigued that the debate is sparking up again. There’s been a lot of lies from the politicians. Promises and nothing has happened, so at least this will put the debate back on the map.”
The initial seven MPs were Karl Sigfrid. Margareta Cederfelt. Ulf Berg. Lena Asplund. Staffan Appelros. Lisbeth Grönfeldt Bergman and Göran Montan. Tuesdays additions were Marie Weibull Kornias,Finn Bengtsson, Ann-Charlotte Hammar Johnsson, Sven Yngve Persson, and Anders Hansson.
**UPDATE** Sorry, forgot to add this translation of the second piece, available here
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Swedish pop bands like ABBA, Roxette, Army of Lovers, Ace of Base, A*Teens, E-Type, The Cardigans and Swedish singer Meja have had international success.
Considering the swedish population compared to the US, I think they are giving the US a run for their money.
Some of the most successful post-ABBA popular music artists from Sweden are Kent, Roxette, The Wannadies, Ace of Base, Carola Häggkvist, Helena Paparizou, Army of Lovers, Neneh and Eagle-Eye Cherry, Robyn, A*Teens, The Cardigans, Europe, Alcazar and Play. A number of renowned rock and pop-oriented artists have come out of the country in recent years, including Eskobar, Jenny Wilson, Clawfinger, The Sounds, Peter Bjorn and John, The Hives, Hardcore Superstar, Millencolin, Sahara Hotnights, Loney, Dear, The Hellacopters, The Ark, Infinite Mass, Love Is All, Mando Diao, Shout Out Louds, Looptroop, José González, Caesars and Stefan Olsdal of Placebo. The Knife and Jens Lekman have both received significant underground acclaim in recent years. Such has been the success of music abroad that clubs specializing in Swedish music have sprung up in major cities like Berlin, Barcelona and London. Swedish chart toppers Kent are also often regarded as a pop band based on the variety of sounds found on their various albums.
@73:
If you want to decide where it goes, don’t release it. Once you’ve released it, you have no more control over how people communicate it to each other, and nor should you.
[quote comment="260477"]@73:
If you want to decide where it goes, don’t release it. Once you’ve released it, you have no more control over how people communicate it to each other, and nor should you.[/quote]
I agree Rick. Although seems there are still some old thinkers out there wanting control over peoples lives.
@75: That’s only a drop in the bucket. I’m from the US and I’d say at least a strong 35% of what I listen to is Swedish. The underground pop scene is so good and there’s so many bands. Best place in the world for music right now, imo.
[quote comment="260456"]Who the fuck cares what Sweden thinks?
They don’t give a shit about this because Swedish stuff isn’t being stolen.
And like their opinion is going to actually ever matter anyway. haha.[/quote]
Are you one of those people who thinks the USA creates everything?
@66
since when does being an online pirate mean im going to go out and commit a crime?
Its not the US government thats the problem, its the corporations donating to candidates so they can get political favors.
If the world desires do download something, eventually it will become legal to download- the point we need to make is (of course) with our money. Currently, the big corporations are “donating” millions away into the US government, trying to stop piracy. just look here!
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.asp?Ind=B02
im not saying that all of that money is from the RIAA, but I can assure you that a good chunk of it is.
@76, a truly brilliant statement, for that is the truth of how things are now. with the advent of CD’s even, it got harder and harder to control the spread of information- ever since then, large corporations have of course been trying to protect “their product”. Look where its gotten them- on the verge of collapse because they cant hold back the tide of information.
[quote comment="260188"]U.S.A. = 3rd world.
Their pipes are so slow it’s painful downloading…[/quote]
USA + Canada = 3rd World.
Our pipes are pathetic. (50-150 kB/s anyone?)
[quote comment="260461"][quote comment="260457"]If I copy the song, you still have it, so it’s not stolen.[/quote]
Nice punt.
I created it. I get to decide where goes, not you.[/quote]
Not really. If your song becomes part of mainstream media the public ultimately decides where it goes. If all goes well it will become part of a society’s culture and end up in the public domain. Future artists may draw on it for inspiration to create new works. This enriches the world. This is written into the constitution of the united States. Because of what we call the ‘Bono Act’ a law on October 27, 1998, amends the copyright laws by extending the duration of copyright protection. In general, copyright terms were extended for an additional 20 years. Hollywood lobbied congress to pass un fair laws like this that hurt everyone. Let me give a brief example here: the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998—so named in honor of the late Rep. Bono, and not because it extended his copyright terms—was constitutional. Prior to the Bono Act, an individually owned work was protected for the creator’s life plus 50 more years; corporate-owned copyrights lasted a flat 75 years. The law extended both timespans by two decades, prompting a legal challenge from Eric Eldred, a bibliophile in New Hampshire who wanted to put digitized editions of old books online.
When the Court ruled against Eldred, the Disney Corporation issued a collective sigh of relief. Before the Bono Act passed, Mickey Mouse was set to enter the public domain in 2004, with his best-known animated pals following shortly afterward. One reason Disney put its weight behind the 1998 legislation was to keep Mickey and the gang on the plantation; Eldred’s backers subsequently adopted Free the Mouse as an unofficial slogan.
Mickey’s own reaction to the decision was less enthusiastic. Telling his keepers that he was going on an “ice run for the boss,” the mouse made his way to a dive bar a few miles outside Disneyland, where he gave reason an exclusive interview.
Q: How does it feel to have your sentence extended by two decades?
A: How do you think it feels? For almost 70 years, I’ve only been allowed to do what the Disney people say I can do. Sometimes someone comes up with a new idea, and I think to myself, “Great! Here’s a chance to stretch myself!” But of course they won’t let me leave the reservation. If I do, they send out their lawyers to bring me home.
In 1971, for instance, Dan O’Neill got me a part in something called Air Pirates Funnies. It was great: I got to have sex, I got to use drugs, I got to explore the whole underground comix scene. It was liberating.
[quote comment="259694"]Why is it you guys blame all this on America?
I think it’s stupid to say that.
…
Never mind that person behind the curtain. It’s just George Bush whipping his A$$ on more religious belief’s.
He’ll be out of office soon.
…
[/quote]
What is up with blaming Bush for anti-filesharing? Its a BIG government over there, folks! Its not like one guy controls, or even knows about, every little thing that’s going on. I mean, to us p2p is big, but when you have to deal with national defense, healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, immigration, arts and science funding, etc. etc. etc. for over 300 million people plus keep an eye on international affairs with every country on the planet, then p2p amoungst 60 million or so of your citizens makes a pretty damn small blip on your radar!
Whether you picture him as an honest guy splitting his time between his national responsibilities and his family, or a greedy dumbass *wad trying to take over the planet and steal everyone’s stuff, clamping down on music sharing is, I would think, pretty low on his list of priorities.
PS - that’s not to say there are no lower-level factions in his government which take bribes from the mafIAA and do everything in their power to clamp down on p2p.
Mr. Anonymous poster. you may work in the music industry but you haven’t PROVED it. you haven’t sourced anything. I can claim I’m in the band nickleback and not source myself to look cool too bro. seriously if the musicians take to the online market via Amazon or Itunes then maybe we won’t be in this mess. its the record industry being too blind to see the future. they want us to spend 20 bucks on a frickin cover instead of just the CD.
I blame Bush and his family for everything.
Bush should be in Jail. He is a war criminal.
USA out of Canada NOW!
Freaking Amerikkkans, can’t even read.
lol sweden
get a job
[quote comment="260477"]@73: Once you’ve released it, you have no more control over how people communicate it to each other, and nor should you.[/quote]
OIC, you get to decide how the world should work and live, huh? I like your thinking. I’ve decided you need to share your girlfriend with me. Tell her to get her stinky ass over here right now, and get ready for long afternoon of blowing me.
You see, you’re all very, very ill. Classic NPD.
Very entertaining comments. Sweden blames America for copyright infringement pressure on an American technology (aka Internet). That makes sense…I guess? Meanwhile, Canada is like wtf?^^
[quote comment="260692"]OIC, you get to decide how the world should work and live, huh? I like your thinking. I’ve decided you need to share your girlfriend with me. Tell her to get her stinky ass over here right now, and get ready for long afternoon of blowing me.[/quote]
I think it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t have a girlfriend.
Stop bashing the U.S.! ya the RIAA and MPAA are the problems and sure the people except for a few are stupid as hell but it’s still a danm good country hell I live in it!
[quote comment="260692"][quote comment="260477"]@73: Once you’ve released it, you have no more control over how people communicate it to each other, and nor should you.[/quote]
OIC, you get to decide how the world should work and live, huh? I like your thinking. I’ve decided you need to share your girlfriend with me. Tell her to get her stinky ass over here right now, and get ready for long afternoon of blowing me.
You see, you’re all very, very ill. Classic NPD.[/quote]
Good point !
Although, should change girlfriend to car (Porshe whatever), thereby bypassing any human rights issues yet staying right on topic.
I love analogies! Keep’em up, guys!
Unfortunately copyright laws will stop you from making a copy of his car, even though you should have the right to.
I believe it is still legal to make a copy of his girlfriend though, if you can find a good way to do it.
[quote]Although, should change girlfriend to car (Porshe whatever), thereby bypassing any human rights issues yet staying right on topic.[/quote]
The proper analogy would be “I’ve decided I like your car, I should be able to see it/a picture of it/whatever”. You viewing his car doesn’t affect his possession of his car in the least, nor does replicating the image of it (via a photo). He still has his car.
BABABOOEY!
The only thing that’s changed is now you can copy what you couldn’t before.
That doesn’t change the law, or the owners right to distribute their work in a way they decide.
They get to decide that, not you.
Unless they say you can take it, you’re stealing.
It’s not stealing. Give it a rest, people don’t buy that argument anymore. It’s over.
Change with the times. If you can’t handle the future, change your job.
LOL. Sorry, but it’s stealing.
Show me where the law changed.
It didn’t. You’re stealing.
The bible is the most pervasive thing, it is written by corrupt men who sought to corrupt the mindsofmany and they have done a splendid job
I’m the savior you guysorgals have been looking for since ancient time
I’m a virgin, i am aloner, i am in touch with nature, and have done much to help everyone since my birth.
I know all, see all, hear all, and a perfectionist. I am never satisfied until perfect.
believing is seeing
I am here to offer my help to humanity who are on the path to destruction
I am the the solution to world peace
I will bring world peace through love, co-operation, and understanding of the world we live in.
[quote comment="260979"]LOL. Sorry, but it’s stealing.
Show me where the law changed.
It didn’t. You’re stealing.[/quote]
LAW? Who gives a flying fark what the law says, the laws will change due to popular opinion, and that is, it’s not stealing.
ok.. now i’m off to get me some music that people are sharing.
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