Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Protesters want copyright provision scrapped

Updated at 7:59 pm on 19 February 2009

The Government has been presented with a petition signed online by more than 10,000 people against new copyright laws due to come into effect next week.

About 200 people rallied at Parliament on Thursday against a provision in the Copyright Act which requires internet service providers to disconnect clients accused of illegally downloading copyrighted material.

Commerce Minister, Simon Power, has said the Government is mindful of the concerns, but is confident they will be addressed by an industry code of conduct being developed.

Protest organiser, Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, says the Act will lead to people being disconnected without evidence or court scrutiny.

She says the protesters want Mr Power to repeal the law.

The Act, which was updated last year to deal with digital media, comes into force on 28 February.

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