This is a joke? Right?

[bob00]

Came across this at Torrenfreak.

The interresting bit comes at paragraph 5.

Sorry couldn't highlight it.



Dotcom Extradition Judge Steps Down After “U.S. Enemy” Comment

July 18, 2012



The New Zealand judge handling the extradition case of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has dramatically stepped down from the role. Speaking at the NetHui conference last week, Judge David Harvey had voiced his feelings on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, describing the United States as “the enemy”. Accepting that the comments could lead people to question his impartiality in the case, Harvey has surrendered his role.

For the greater part, Kim Dotcom and his co-defendants will have been pretty happy with Judge David Harvey, the man overlooking their increasingly controversial extradition case.

Things had been going well, with the Judge ruling favorably towards the Megaupload founder and his friends on a number of occasions, but last week he apparently overstepped the mark.

It happened during the NetHui conference after the launch of “Fair Deal”, a campaign opposing amendments to New Zealand copyright law that could become part of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. In common with ACTA that went before it, TPP negotiations are being held in secret and being used by the U.S. entertainment industries to push for tougher copyright law.

One of issues surrounds the circumvention of DVD region codes which currently allows New Zealanders to watch DVDs from other regions without committing an offense. TPP seeks to remove that freedom, and Judge Harvey made it clear he wasn’t happy with that.

“Under TPP and the American Digital Millennium copyright provisions you will not be able to do that, that will be prohibited… if you do you will be a criminal – that’s what will happen,” Judge Harvey said, adding:

“..we have met the enemy and he is [the] U.S.”

Quickly, NZHearld quoted Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge describing the comment as potentially “unhelpful” but clearly the pressure has been building since.

This morning, Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue announced that Judge Harvey had decided to step down from the case over the comments.

“He recognizes that remarks made in the context of a paper he delivered on copyright law at a recent internet conference could reflect on his impartiality and that the appropriate response is for him to step down from the case,” she said.

Over the past few months, Judge Harvey has ruled several times in favor of Dotcom and his co-defendants.

Back in April, he praised Dotcom and his associates on their “commendable” behavior, going on to reinstate Dotcom’s Internet access, his swimming sessions, and visits to a recording studio to finish his album.

He went on to grant Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato permission to travel to Dotcom’s home once a week for a maximum of six hours so that they could work on their defense.

And in May and against U.S. wishes, Judge Harvey ordered the disclosure of all documents related to crimes the “Megaupload conspirators” had allegedly participated in.

The extradition case, scheduled for 2013, will now be heard by Judge Nevin Dawson.



I assume this will also include Australia.

[BarnDoor]

I imagine it would include all countries in the TPP. It's potentially very significant if true, but I fail to see how it could be realistically implemented. I mean there's no law against importing DVDs/Blu-rays of another region (yet), or even buying a US Blu-ray or DVD player.

[bob00]

Ha. The Melonfarmers have it on their site with the headline

The USA is the Enemy...

Next nasty trade agreement is set to ban region 1 DVDs/Blu-rays

[Mark Malmstrøm]

Actually there is

In DENMARK i believe it's illegal for stores to sell imported DVD's from US

[BarnDoor]

I think that's the same for the UK isn't it?

[LordCrumb]

Off topic, moved to General.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I'm going to let this slide for now, as I think it's an interesting situation and of concern to many people. However, please know that if this ventures off into a discussion of a political nature vis-a-vis copyright laws from country to country, it will be closed. Please be guided accordingly.

Thanks!

[Magicmonger]

Originally Posted by Mark Malmstrøm

Actually there is

In DENMARK i believe it's illegal for stores to sell imported DVD's from US

Really? Illegal?

[happyman]

Without being political(although that is pretty tough when discussing international trade).The United Nations need to have a general discussion about "international copyright law" and attempt to ratify a consensus of law amongst the worlds nations.The existing situation could only be described as a dogs breakfast.

[Mark Malmstrøm]

Originally Posted by Magicmonger

Really? Illegal?

Yes - it's the same as music downloads - they say that the distributions company are losing money if we bourght imported movies - But funny enough it's okay to buy from the UK

[happyman]

Don't want to be pedantic Bob00 but you have the Aussie flag as your header not the N.Z flag which is the origin of this story(they do look very similar)

[nefilim]

Originally Posted by Mark Malmstrøm

Actually there is

In DENMARK i believe it's illegal for stores to sell imported DVD's from US

(I think) its same here in Finland. Isn`t that the whole point of dvd/blu-ray regions. You are supposed to sell in stores your own region discs only ? Funnily its not forbidden to order from abroad another region disks. but thats why the players are coded to play "your" region only. sure there are region free players, but here in Finland hard to get and veryvery expensive - now talking about blu-ray players...

Does US stores sell region B ONLY discs ? dont think so ?!

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by nefilim

(I think) its same here in Finland. Isn`t that the whole point of dvd/blu-ray regions. You are supposed to sell in stores your own region discs only ? Funnily its not forbidden to order from abroad another region disks. but thats why the players are coded to play "your" region only. sure there are region free players, but here in Finland hard to get and veryvery expensive - now talking about blu-ray players...

Does US stores sell region B ONLY discs ? dont think so ?!

but over here in the U.S. the Regions are set up by the studios and are not law or anything. there ARE small stores that DO sell Region B and Region C discs. they are import stores, small and niche market but they have every right to do so.

[nefilim]

Originally Posted by wormraper

but over here in the U.S. the Regions are set up by the studios and are not law or anything. there ARE small stores that DO sell Region B and Region C discs. they are import stores, small and niche market but they have every right to do so.

the law in Finland goes ( if I am correct, again ) that every film must go thru censorship board or something and if shops import other region disc they wont go thru that channel. even if the movie is not censored or anything - it must be go thru proper channels. BUT individuals are allowed to buy discs where ever they want to. does this make any sense ?

but i have seen such small stores here too when dvds came that held movies from other regions. I bought from those too. now i am so sure anymore, are they around ... I buy online only, its much cheaper.