China introduces new rules against internet copyright piracy News
China introduces new rules against internet copyright piracy

[JURIST] Seeking to curb piracy, China has announced new rules to take effect later this month that will make ISPs liable if they host content that violates copyright. ISPs that don't remove illegal content face fines [China Daily report] of up to $12,000. The rules come in response to a call from President Bush for China to abide by international trade rules [Reuters report]. The US Supreme Court is currently deciding [MGM v. Grokster, background] if P2P file-sharing companies are liable for infringing use by third parties. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.