Panama's new copyright law is the worst in the history of the universe

We've seen some stupid copyright laws in the past fifteen years, but Panama's new law -- which has passed the legislature and merely awaits executive approval. Under Bill 510, the Panamanian copyright office has the power to pursue file-sharers directly, fining each one $100,000 ($200,000 on second offense) and keeping the money for itself, paying bonuses to apparats in the copyright office from the pot. Artists and copyright proprietors get none of that money, but they can also sue file-sharers if they want. Naturally, this bill was passed without public scrutiny, expert input, hearings, or public debate. As Technollama writes:

This is what I think will happen if the law passes as it stands. The DGDA will immediately try to monitor all torrent use in Panama, be it legitimate or not, and all people identified with IP addresses will be summoned and summarily fined. After all, the institution and its employees will have a direct financial incentive to assume guilt. Then those same people will be sent again and again, as there will be clear incentive to fine re-offenders.
This is a toxic piece of legislation any way you look at it, and we urge the Panamanian Congress to modify Chapter I of Title XII, or to remove it altogether.

Is Panama about to pass the worst copyright law in history? | TechnoLlama (via Techdirt)

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MORE: bill 510 • Copyfight • corruption • extortion • law • panama

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TimmoWarner

Worst in the history of the universe? More like BEST in the… wait… no.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=512507656 Sergio Faria Restrepo

The only way in which Panama accept this, is by the free trade agreement that the U.S. imposed on us. And of course, why they did so quickly, but we will keep fighting until the end. We will not leave.
http://www.facebook.com/hector.f.chan Hector F. Chan

You’d better be packing and move to Narnia….
http://disqus.com/Kimmoth/ Kimmo

I’ve been refusing to pay fines for not wearing a bike helmet for twenty years, and it seems to be working out pretty well so far…

Any scope for Panamanians to follow suit…?
howaboutthisdangit

I fear that laws like this will become more common around the globe, until a tipping point is reached and enough people become outraged. My biggest fear is that the lawmakers and their media bosses are keeping a close eye on the overall balance, and will prevent that tipping. They don’t care how many people bitch and whine as long as those complaints don’t translate into votes or consumer boycotts, and there are enough sheepish consumers to dampen any unrest.
princessalex

“We’ve seen some stupid copyright laws in the past fifteen years, but Panama’s new law — which has passed the legislature and merely awaits executive approval.”

The first sentence left me hanging. It needs an end to the clause, “. . . . but Panama’s new law . . . “
http://halfbakedmaker.org Robert Baruch

A man. A plan. A shitty copyright treaty. A canal. Panama!
donovan acree

I do hope it passes. The public push-back should be something to behold.
Umut Bozkurt

Here’s another take: Six-figure copyright fines with no complaint from the author

http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_18/issue_08/economy_01.html