Copyright Act and Penal Code to Be Amended

the eFinland Weblog

Helsinki, 11 November, 2005 — As part of the revision of the Copyright Act, Finnish legislation will be updated to take into account special issues related to the digital and network environment. The reform will enact nationally the changes required by the copyright directive of 2001. The amendments will mainly enter force on 1 January 2006. Some of the changes are:

- Distributing files over the Internet without permission will be forbidden. Even if the distribution was not done with the intent to earn, actions that violate copyright can be punished as copyright crimes.

- Copying by consumers for their own use will still be permitted. Downloading illicit material from the Internet will be prohibited. Making backup copies of computer programs will still be permitted as before.

- Possible copy protection in recordings may not be circumvented for making a copy.

- Obtaining user licences for mass use will be made easier by new licence agreement provisions. For instance, it will be possible to conclude an agreement with an organisation representing the copyright holders about the digital use of the material in teaching.

- Distribution of material using information networks will be the exclusive right of copyright holders (they have the right to decide on the form and terms of use). The right to decide on 'on-demand' communication to the public will also be given to performing artists (musicians, actors, etc.), phonogram and film producers, ra-dio and television companies and photographers.

- A copy of a work acquired for private use, as well as copies of work in the collec-tions of archives, libraries and museums, may be distributed further regardless of where it was obtained. Thus, the right to import audio records, books and comics from outside the EU for one's own use remains unchanged.

More information
http://www.minedu.fi

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