THE MINISTER of State for Research and Innovation has said he is not averse to primary legislation to bring in a measure aimed at balancing the rights of copyright holders and internet users.
Seán Sherlock said, however, that he still intended to sign a controversial ministerial order on copyright and this move was “imminent”.
The order was published yesterday, with those opposing it stating it was not “functionally” different from an earlier draft. The statutory instrument will, once signed, allow copyright holders to seek injunctions against those they believe to be infringing their copyright.
Those opposing the measure, including lawyers who have established an online petition to protest against it, believe a ministerial order is a sweeping and inappropriate means of introducing such legislative change.
They have called for a full Dáil debate. The number of signatures on the Stop Sopa Ireland petition, established by law lecturer TJ McIntyre and solicitor Simon McGarr and others, had passed 50,000 by last night.
In a briefing note, the Minister said concerns that his proposal mirrored the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) in the US were “not based on fact”. The purpose of the statutory instrument was “simply to provide explicitly” that injunctions may be sought, as obligated by two EU directives. He was particularly conscious of “the importance of online content and digital businesses in the Irish context”.
When the issue was raised by Catherine Murphy (Ind) and Derek Keating (FG), Mr Sherlock said he was “not averse” to primary legislation, but he insisted the order would be signed “imminently”.
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