Wednesday 6:35pm (18th February 2009)
CFF announce Public Demonstration 12 Noon, Thursday 19 February..FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Creative Freedom Foundation announces that at 12 Noon on Thursday 19 February 2009 a public demonstration will be held on Parliament grounds in Wellington in support of MPs against Guilt Upon Accusation laws in New Zealand – specifically the controversial Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act, due to come into effect on 28 February 2009.
(download press release as PDF, ODT)
S92A reverses New Zealander's fundamental right to being presumed innocent until proven guilty, punishing internet users with disconnection based accusations of copyright infringement without a trial and without evidence held up to court scrutiny.
Over 10,000 people have now signed the CFF's petition against Guilt Upon Accusation laws in NZ. At 12.30pm, as part of the demonstration, CFF Director Bronwyn Holloway-Smith will present the petition to the government via Hon Peter Dunne of UnitedFuture.
The CFF call on the Minister responsible Hon Simon Power to immediately repeal S92A or delay its commencement, pending a review of how to best balance the rights and obligations of creators, distributors, and Internet Service Providers with respect to digital materials. Those opposing S92A can email Mr Power on s.power@ministers.govt.nz, respectfully notifying him of their concerns. Holloway-Smith states that “while we understand that New Zealanders are passionate about this issue, letters should be polite.”
Each MP will also be given a copy of a CD featuring the Creative Freedom Foundation's Guilt Upon Accusation anthem: The Copywrong Song.
The organisers of the protest are asking participants to turn up wearing colourful clothes and with black placards – echoing the Internet Blackout campaign that has seen thousands of internet users “blacking out” their webpages, blogs, and social networking sites to show their opposition to the law.
Download The Copywrong Song and find instructions on how to take part in the blackout campaign can be found on www.CreativeFreedom.org.nz
ENDS
ABOUT THE CREATIVE FREEDOM FOUNDATION
The Creative Freedom Foundation was founded in 2008 by artists and technologists Bronwyn Holloway-Smith and Matthew Holloway in response to changes in copyright law and the effect these changes are having on creativity, the economy, and public rights. The CFF represent thousands of New Zealand artists including musicians, film makers, visual artists, designers, writers, & performers.The Foundation's primary goals are:
The education of New Zealand artists about emerging issues within New Zealand that have the potential to influence their collective creativityAdvocacy to ensure that their views are taken into consideration, and
The promotion and encouragement of activities that support and build the New Zealand arts community, positive relationships within that community and/or the positive wellbeing of that community.
The Creative Freedom Foundation views the internet as an opportunity for artists in New Zealand, not a threat and, through their goals, they seek to bring Copyright Law into the 21st Century.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For more information please contact:Bronwyn Holloway-Smith
Director, Creative Freedom Foundation
cff@holloway.co.nz
+ 64 21 107 5747
