'Irish Sopa' legislation passed despite robust opposition

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'Irish Sopa' legislation passed despite robust opposition

Ireland's hi-tech industry fears amended law, which could see websites subject to injunctions if copyrighted material was posted, may curb growth of online business


Google-dublin-007.jpg

Critics of the 'Irish Sopa' legislation say it could curb growth in the online business in a country which has become a major global hub for companies such as Google. Illustration: Bloomberg/Getty Images


The Irish government has passed into law controversial copyright legislation that internet freedom groups have called a new form of censorship.

Seán Sherlock, the Labour minister for research and innovation, signed the legislation to amend copyright law in Ireland.

Opposition to the legislation – called by critics the "Irish Sopa" after the US Stop Online Piracy Act – has been robust. Ireland is a major global hub for companies such as Google and Facebook, which are among the biggest employers in Dublin, and some in the hi-tech industry believe the changes could curb the growth of online business in the Republic.

Sherlock said he "urged all interested parties to focus now on making Ireland a model of international best practice for innovation, and ensuring that our copyright laws facilitate the achievement of this goal".

He denied that the legislation could lead to the blocking of major websites such as YouTube or Facebook – which could potentially be subject to injunctions if copyrighted material was posted on them by other parties – and stressed he had "no intention" of curbing the freedom of Irish internet users.

An online petition opposing the legislation has recorded more than 80,000 signatures since it was started at the end of January.

But the Irish Recorded Music Association has backed the amended copyright law, claiming it would protect Irish musicians and recording artists.



Henry McDonald in Dublin
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 March 2012 15.09 GMT
© 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

'Irish Sopa' legislation passed despite robust opposition | World news | The Guardian
 
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