Waikato film-makers and musicians affected by illegal downloading feel controversial new copyright laws do little to address the problem.

The Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill  passed under urgency last week  is designed to stop illegal file sharing, including the unauthorised downloading of music and movies.

A three-strike warning policy applies before copyright holders can take a claim to the Copyright Tribunal, which can impose fines of up to $15,000 or disconnect a private internet connection for up to six months.

Cambridge film producer Mike Riddell said attempts to regulate the internet were always going to be faced with disaster.

"The legislation is not well considered and is not going to have much effect. I wish it had been a slower, more thought-out process," he said.

A rough cut of Mr Riddell's 2010 film, The Insatiable Moon, was available on the internet for illegal download before it was even completed, and he expected the same would happen with the DVD edition released this month.

"As a film-maker working with limited resources and income stream, [I find] the downloading of films is a bit of a problem," he said.

But he said the Government's "knee-jerk reaction" to the issue of illegal downloading was a "sledgehammer to crack a walnut".

While Mr Riddell did not support the Government's move to stamp out file sharing, he said illegal downloads were financially damaging for independent artists.

"Look, we're on the bones of our arse, it's only fair that we should be able to earn an income.
"It's time to consider what they [file sharers] are doing and who they're hurting."

But he said it was better to work with internet organisations rather than using "legislation to criminalise users".

Internet Service Providers of New Zealand Association president Jamie Cairns said new laws did not get to the heart of the problem and that while monitoring the internet might pick up some illegal activity "there's going to be ways around it".

Founding member of folk band Avalanche City, Dave Baxter, used file sharing to reach a greater audience by posting his album for free download online.

"(But) it's only cool if the person who's making the art specifically wants it to be file sharing, otherwise it's like totally destructive.

"I think that illegal file sharing is quite bad and I can definitely see the negative effects it's had on the industry."

Hamilton musician William Page said policing the internet might slow down illegal downloading, but wouldn't get rid of it entirely.

"I think it's here to stay," he said.

The new law comes into effect on September 1.

- Jonathan Carson is a Wintec journalism student. 

- Waikato Times