Swiss Copyright Law: Downloading Stays Legal, No Site Blocking (torrentfreak.com)

Article summary

Switzerland's National Council has passed amendments to the country's copyright law, allowing users to continue downloading copyrighted content for personal use without fear of reprisals. The amendments also reject the introduction of site blocking, unlike in other European countries. However, hosting providers will be required to remove illegal content from their servers. The new law extends copyright protection for musical and photographic works from 50 to 70 years.

Main themes

• Swiss copyright law
• piracy and downloading
• site blocking
• copyright protection
• intellectual property

What commenters say

• The extension of copyright protection to 70 years after the author's death is seen as excessive and unfair to society.
• Inheritance of wealth and property is a natural and driving force for the economy.
• Limiting copyright terms to a fixed number of years, such as 20 years, could promote creativity and innovation without unduly enriching authors' families.
• The idea of meritocracy suggests that wealth and resources should be earned based on individual contributions to society, rather than inherited.
• The current copyright system prioritizes the interests of corporations and authors' families over the public good.
• A balance between protecting authors' rights and allowing for the free use of creative works is necessary for a healthy and innovative society.
• The rejection of site blocking in Switzerland is seen as a victory for internet freedom and a blow to the entertainment industry's efforts to control online content.