During a day of action last week, which saw websites including Wikipedia voluntarily going offline for the day, Sopa will not be passed in its current format in the US.
Mr Sherlock denied the legislation was equivalent to the proposal in the US.“This is not Sopa legislation, it’s nowhere near it,” he said.
He described the online reaction to his proposals as “disproportionate” and said the Government would never act to limit freedom of expression.
Mr Sherlock wrote to TDs last night stating the implementation of the legislation was necessary following a 2010 High Court ruling in which music publisher EMI sought an injunction against internet provider UPC, ordering it to block access to websites that allowed illegal downloading.
While the court found EMI’s rights were breached, Mr Justice Peter Charleton pointed out he could not grant the injunction as the Copyright Act did not provide for this remedy.
Mr Sherlock told TDs the purpose of the proposed legislation is “simply to provide explicitly that injunctions may be sought”.
Ah. Well that’s alright then, isn’t it?
Internet Piracy Law Will Be balanced, Says Minister (Irish Times)
