Quote:
Originally Posted by AdultKing
There are several laws that apply.
Firstly there is the Berne Convention.
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/text.jsp?file_id=283698
Then each country (in some cases states) enacts it's own IP and Copyright laws.
In the USA there is the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the WIPO Copyright and Performances and Phonograms Treaties Implementation Act and this applies the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. |
"The bill, called SOPA, would allow the U.S. Department of Justice and copyright holders to seek court orders requiring online advertising networks, payment processors and other organizations to stop payments to websites and Web-based services accused of copyright infringement."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/24401..._a_primer.html
"Congress has been trying to find ways to deal with this issue but has yet to enact any legislation. In the meantime, the Obama administration has encouraged members of the private sector to take voluntary measures to address intellectual property and copyright infringement online. One recent effort is a “best practices” system for payment system operators — think credit card companies and PayPal. Below, we will examine the “who’s” and the “how’s” of these best practices, and how they relate to musicians."
http://futureofmusic.org/article/art...t-infringement
Seems that in US, unless you have court order, it's just based on voluntarily acts.
"Payment Processor Responsibilities Following a Rightsholder Complaint
Under the agreement, the payment processors will investigate claims made by rightsholders to make sure that merchants aren’t processing illegal transactions with legitimate payment systems.
The credit card companies will ask for evidence from the merchant to show that they are not selling infringing goods. If the merchant cannot provide such evidence, or the payment processor reasonably determines that the merchant is selling infringing products, they will tell the merchant to prevent such activity in the future.
If the merchant does not heed these warnings than the payment processor will suspend or terminate service to that merchant for U.S. account holders. The payment processors will have procedures in place for a merchant to dispute any complaints made against it. And, if a merchant provides evidence that they are not infringing, the payment processor can ask the rightsholder for an agreement that would reimburse the payment processor for any costs associated with resolving the dispute. "
http://futureofmusic.org/article/art...t-infringement
So based on these voluntarily acts, the first thing is not to close account at the first place. Also, they are not liable for the copyright issue, but might be required to take some actions ordered by court.