sidz used our news submit to tell us that from next year Singapore will be introducing new jail terms and fines for people that break internet copyright laws or software laws. People who are found guilty of illegally using software or downloading software from the internet will face a jail sentence of 6 months and a fine of 20,000 Singapore dollars ($15,395 Australian dollars / $11,307 US) for their first offence. Repeated offenders face three years in jail and another fine of 50,000 Singapore dollars.
The law seems to be centred on people that use software illegally for a commercial advantage or those that significantly infringe copyright laws. The law doesn't seem to say anything about targeting individuals that download some music for personal use. A spokesperson for the Singaporean Intellectual Property Office said that courts would have to decide what significant copyright infringment was and what wasn't. A person that downloads 1 movie or 1 song would unlikely to be targeted but a person that downloaded 1000 would seriously be pushing it.
The Singapore parliament will ratify this updated law by the middle of next month with the new laws taking effect by 1st January 2005. Previously those that were infringing copyright by downloading music were only subject to a civil case such as a lawsuit. The new laws brought into Singapore are thanks to a new free trade agreement Singapore signed with the United States.
| Singapore will next year introduce jail terms and stiff fines The laws specifically refer to people who break the law "to obtain a commercial advantage" or infringe significantly, meaning individuals who download a limited number of songs or movies off the internet for personal use may be exempt. A spokeswoman for the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore said the courts would be left to interpret the definition of "significant".Although the spokeswoman stressed the courts would set the precedent, she said people who downloaded one song or movie were unlikely to be prosecuted but "1000 could be pushing it". She said parliament was likely to pass the ammendents by the middle of the next month, with the new laws due to take effect from January 1 next year.The tougher laws are part of Singapore's commitments to its free trade agreement signed with the United States that came into effect this year. Previously people who breached software and internet copyright laws in Singapore were only subject to civil action.Tougher penalties for the illegal manufacturing, sale and distribution of software remain unaffacted by the new laws. |
I wonder how long it will be before this type of action is introduced into other countries around the world.
Source: The Age
