Free file sharing in the copyright law supported by a Norwegian Party

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The Norwegian Liberal Party (Venstre) passed a resolution on 14 April 2007
to support changes in the copyright law including free file sharing, free
sampling and the banning of DRM systems.

The resolution proposed by the Young Liberals and supported by Trine Skei
Grande, Vice Chairwoman of the Liberal Party, is meant to adapt the
legislation to the modern technological developments.

“These are great opportunities, and the Liberal Party wants to use them. We
want to advocate collecting, use, improvement and spreading of all culture,
ideas and innovation for non-commercial use”, said Jonas Stein Eilertsen,
cultural spokesperson for the Young Liberals.

Venstre believes the copyright law in force is outdated and a balance needs
to be created between the consumers’ demands, access and openness to culture
and the artist’s rights. The opinion is that copyright has been largely
misused by the copyright owners and distributors which led to stalling
innovation and artistic development.

One of the changes the resolution proposes is the free file sharing. As the
new technologies allow now a wide and global spread of culture at a minimum
cost new means must be found for the compensation of artists and copyright
owners so that file sharing might be free.

Free sampling is also proposed in order to give artists and producers the
possibility to rework old works thus simplifying the present situation
where this requires the approval of all copyright holders. The
anti-plagiarism laws are considered to be enough to protect the copyright
holders’ rights.

Another proposed change is related to the life span of the commercial
copyright. Presently, the copyright life span in Norway is 70 years after
the original holder’s death. The Liberal Party considers this period should
be shorter.

A significant change would refer to DRM systems, the Liberal Party
considering these should be banned in order to ensure the free use and
distribution of culture and information. With products using DRM that are
outside the Norwegian jurisdiction, there must be a clear specification of
the use of DRM.

“International law regulates most of these questions. I have yet to conclude
on everything regarding these complex problems, but I have faith in this as
a radical and modern solution that still ensures artists’ rights to revenue
and attribution” stated Skei Grande.

Liberal Party Advocates Legal File Sharing (15.04.2007)
http://www.uv.no/arkiv/pressemeldinger/liberal-party-advocates-legal-file-sharing

Culture wants to be free! (16.04.2007)
http://www.uv.no/politics/translated-items/culture-wants-to-be-free