[Statement]We Oppose the Pohang Iron and Steel Co.'s Application for an Provisional Injunction Against Anti-POSCO Homepage
We ask you (POSCO) sincerely. You (POSCO)! Withdraw your applicatio
n against Anti-POSCO Homepage, Take the Court's decision and rehire the Sammi Wo
rkers who is fired unfairly. If you cling to your absurd attitude, we make a coo
perative action with a lot of Netizens against your infringement of expression f
reedom on Internet.
Source :
1. Korean Progressive Network (Jinbonet) and Korean Labor Network (Korean Nodongnet) are very anxious about the Pohang Iron and Steel Co.(POSCO) application, because it is an outdated idea. POSCO applied for a provisional injunction of not using the design against Anti-POSCO Homepage (This homepae parodied POSCO Homepage) to the Seoul District Court on April 2nd. The Corporation strongly asserts as follows:
"The design of Anti-POSCO Homepage is a copy of POSCO's. So, it is absolutely an infringement of copyright."
Generally, Copyright is a right to provide for commercial loss or serious damage by the commercial rival. But, Anti-POSCO Homepage is not commercial, and not the rival of POSCO's. So, it is an result of POSCO's taking the meaning of Copyright very largely. We assert that the application of POSCO is an infringement of expression freedom.
2. Internet is a space for many people to express, assert, and emphasize their opinion freely. There are a lot of anti-sites parodied by commercial corporations' in the world. People can express their opposition against corporation through the parody sites. Also, they have the right of freedom of expression. it is alike that an enterprise can advertise itself by Internet.
And it is general that these parody sites have used the opponent's Logo or Name. It is just a way of expression.
3. The main contents of Anti-POSCO Homepage are related to the news of Sammi Special Steel Co. workers, for example, the requests of laborers and the justice of their strikes etc. The Seoul High Court has already decided that the Sammi workers demand (rehire Sammi union leaders and activists) was right. But, POSCO refused it. This homepage opened in order to inform these informations more widely.
And as an expression of the protest against POSCO, this Anti-POSCO Homepage is parodied by POSCO's.
Parody homepage is the minimum expression means of the social weak, who are protesting against giant Corporation.
4. POSCO's application for the provisional injunction against this Anti-POSCO homepage is merely a legal violence of giant corporation by Copyright. Furthermore, POSCO is a public company. His behavior is certainly a infringement of freedom of expression. Generally, Copyright is a right to provide for commercial loss or serious damage by the commercial rival. But, Anti-POSCO Homepage is not commercial, and not the rival of POSCO's. Also, this homepage did not make a false description.
So, we look the POSCO's legal application upon a violation of giant enterprise to freedom of expression on Internet
5. Finally, we ask you (POSCO) sincerely. You (POSCO)! Withdraw your application against Anti-POSCO Homepage, Take the Court's decision and rehire the Sammi Workers who is fired unfairly. If you cling to your absurd attitude, we make a cooperative action with a lot of Netizens against your infringement of expression freedom on Internet.
2000. 04. 11
Jinbonetwork Center / Korean Labor Network
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