Chile Resists US Pressure, Rejects ISP Filtering

Bill would’ve required ISPs to block content after a simple warning letter by copyright holders alleging copyright infringement as well for them to keep identifying data of those who receive it.
The Chilean House of Reps has formally rejected the latest attempt Chilean President Michele Bachelet to “reform” that country’s copyright laws to include ISP-level content filtering.

Pres Bacehelet had argued that it’s necessary in order to comply with a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, but critics pointed out that’s not true being that the US is nowhere near ever having a similar system in place nor is it likely to ever have one.

Many voted against the bill simply because it would’ve allowed ISPs and not the courts to determine copyright infringement.

Specifically, they cite Article 10 which reads:

The Provider is aware that in good faith alleged breaches of the rights established in this Act shall be exempt from liability, whether by letter notifies the alleged offender. If he announces that it agrees to the discretion of the service provider or be silent for more than ten days from the date of communication, the service provider may block the material hosted on their systems that may be subject of reproach. It is within this period, the alleged violator in writing to insist that such content will continue to be transmitted, they can not be blocked by the service provider and the service provider is exempt from any responsibility.

ISPs would’ve been responsible for verifying copyright infringement and most likely would’ve introduced mechanisms to be more proactive with their efforts to ensure compliance and decreased liability, meaning active content filtering in violation of customer privacy.

Another article, Article 12, would’ve required ISPs to keep identifying data of those accused of copyright infringement for at least 6 months. Critics says it’s unfair since it’s only an allegation and no similar treatment is required for people accused, yet not convicted of other crimes.

I’m glad to see that Chilean legislators were able to resist efforts by their president to institute such draconian copyright laws, but what’s disturbing is they were made in my name. The US govt, at the behest of greedy entertainment industry cartels, is trying to muscle smaller countries into enacting legislation that is entirely necessary.

Is Chilean online piracy really having a detrimental impact on US copyright holders like the MPAA and RIAA? I highly doubt it.

Source: FileSharingZ