Finland makes it illegal to circumvent DRM technologies

Posted on 7 Oct 2005 at 12:49

The Finnish parliament has passed new copyright laws that make it illegal to circumvent digital rights management technologies.

The legislation even outlaws making copies of protected content for your own use and although the country's government said that it will not enforce the law at that level, there is nothing to prevent the music and movie industries from doing so, although the government has asked them not to prosecute individuals making copies for their own use.

Copy-protection mechanisms are increasingly prevalent on big-name CD releases, preventing music from being ripped to a PC or MP3 player. Methods of getting round DRM restrictions can easily be found on the Web, but in Finland such guidance will also be illegal. Even 'organised discussion' on circumventing DRM is illegal.

Previously, Finland had reasonably relaxed copyright laws with a levy charged on blank media in exchange for the right to make copies for personal use. Despite the introduction of the new laws, the levy remains.

Author: Simon Aughton

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