John Key has announced this afternoon that the Government will scrap Section 92A out of the Copyright Amendment.

With an overwhelming bid of support in protest of Section 92A, it seems the black out worked like a charm. The proposed section of the Act, which was set to disconnect any internet connection based on accusation of copyright, will be rewritten from the ground up.

In support of the internet blackout for creative freedom, NZS.com is amongst the thousands of New Zealand companies and personal internet users that are showing our support today in protest of Section 92A.

With a black banner on the NZS.com homepage, we’re joining the campaign against the proposed law which is set to disconnect any internet connection based on accusation of copyright, without any evidence. The final day of the week-long protest is today as the law is currently set to come into place on February 28 if successful.

If you have a website or social networking page we invite you to black out your avatars in support of the creative freedom foundation alongside NZS.com and a large proportion of Kiwi internet users worldwide.

Today the Creative Freedom NZ group launched their Internet Blackout campaign.

The New Zealand Internet Blackout is a protest against Section 92A of a proposed law that is described as calling for internet disconnection based on accusations of copyright infringement without any trial and without any evidence that is held up to court scrutiny.

“A “copyright holder” can get you kicked off an ISP without having to provide any evidence of an actual infringement. Having to [provide evidence] is apparently “impractical” and “ridiculous” in the words of RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith. What happens when the “you” above is a public library, or a school? Or if the “copyright holder” makes a mistake or a malicious accusation?” – ComputerWorld Magazine.

From February 16-23, users of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networking sites are encouraged to replace their avatars with a black image to signify their opposition to S.92. The proposed new law if successful, will come into full force on February 28.