WHY “THE PIRATE PARTY”?
It’s often been suggested that using a name like “The
Pirate Party” will drive away potential supporters and
voters. We disagree.
Those that promote increasingly restrictive copyright laws
often use questionable language to further their cause,
and that the label ‘pirates’ in particular is something of
an absurdity. We adopt the label to draw attention to its
questionable nature. No matter what name we chose it
would come to be associated with currently copyrightinfringing file-sharing activity because legalising such
activity is one of our core policies, so we might as well
choose a name which is already associated with that.
There’s also a successful pirate party movement in 40
countries, including a number of registered pirate parties.
Sweden has 2 MEP’s and other parties have assorted
seats in national or local government. We’re happy to be
associated with all of that too.
THE PIRATE PARTY
OF NEW ZEALAND
In the 50’s and 60’s there was a pirate radio movement
which had in some ways similar goals. Outdated
regulations over radio broadcasting limited the use of
transmitter technology of the time, much the same way
that outdated copyright laws limit how user want to use
computers and p2p technology today. Pirate radio wanted
to broadcast commercially and commercial broadcasting
was illegal so they ‘broke the law’. These days, those
people (eg Radio Hauraki) are proud of their pirate history
and the part they played in getting those laws changed.
The Pirate Party of New Zealand is a member of Pirate
Parties International, a non-governmental organisation
(NGO) that exists to help establish, to support and
promote, and to maintain communication and co-operation
between pirate parties around the world. It was officially
founded in 2010 during the Brussels conference from April
16th to 18th.
http://www.pp-international.net/
About the Pirate Party
We have a platform of promotion of civil liberties in the
areas of information and technology, including liberalising
copyright and patent laws, and protecting privacy and
freedom of speech, especially in relation to the Internet.
We aren’t a single issue party as such, but we are focused
on a narrow range of issues. We are concerned that
governments are promoting the interests of a small but
influential minority in regards to these issues, and we seek
to change this. We don’t, at this time, intend to develop
policy or have official views on issues outside these areas.
Our Position on Copyright
To publish a work is to make it public, and for a published
work to be controlled, the public must be controlled. We
don’t think authors have a moral right to impose such
control, but rather that such control can only be justified
by democratic agreement to advance the public good by
providing an incentive for creating works.
How Can I Help?
If you wish to help you can join the party, sign up to
the website, write an essay, link a story, help with the
constitution and policy formulation, contribute on the
forums, and make this issue a talking point. We don’t have
a procedure for accepting donations yet, other than that
you can optionally send a donation together with the
membership fee if you decide to join.
Currently the Pirate Party of New Zealand is not a
registered political party. We can not yet contend the party
vote, although we can stand candidates in electorates. We
are aiming to become a registered party and hope that
this will give us the means to exert real political pressure
to effect change in copyright and patent legislation, and
expand public understanding of the surrounding issues
within New Zealand. In order to become a registered party,
we must first acquire 500 financial members.
THE PIRATE PARTY
OF NEW ZEALAND
COPYRIGHT POLICY:
—To set copyright term to 10 years
from publication
—To allow non-commercial
use, copying, and conveying of
copyrighted works
—To allow circumvention of ‘Digital
Rights Management’
—To set patent term to 10 years
—To exclude intangible inventions
from patent cover
—To require warrants for the
interception of electronic messages
Copyright Amendment Bill
The Pirate Party of New Zealand is disappointed that
the Government used urgency to pass the Copyright
(Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill after the
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Bill.
“Not only is the urgency process being abused,” party
secretary Noel Zeng stated, “but our government is also
exploiting the people of Christchurch by using their
unfortunate situation to pass underhanded legislation.”
Under this “three strikes bill,” if anyone in a household is
accused of three acts of illegal filesharing, they could be
fined $15000 or, if fines are found to be ineffective, the
entire household could lose their internet connection for 6
months. This bypasses due process, violates privacy, and
provides the “Copyright Tribunal” with more discretionary
powers. The initial draft of the bill widely criticised when
it was debated in November and changes since then have
failed to adequately address the concerns raised. The
Pirate Party of New Zealand believes that internet access
is a basic human right. The bill is unjust in violating the
general principle of, “innocent until proven guilty.”
The Pirate Party is not the only group that opposes
this bill, Tech Liberty, InternetNZ and the New Zealand
Open Source Society are just some of the prominent
organisations that have strongly criticised it. Major ISPs
and Internet users have also voiced concerns.
The Pirate Party is pleased to note that the Green MP
Gareth Hughes was vocal in his opposition to the bill
during debate and should be commended.
Contact the Party
Tommy Fergusson—President
[email protected]
General: [email protected]
Media: [email protected]
Board: [email protected]
Policy: [email protected]