In September 2011 New Zealand passed new laws that allows intellectual property owners (e.g, the music or movie industry) to send notices to New Zealand residents and citizens when suspected of illegal downloading or uploading of copyrighted content. After a person has received a third notice, the intellectual property owner can bring that person before a tribunal that can fine the accused up to NZ$15,000.

Under this law, the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) has sent roughly 6,000 notices. Out of the thousands of people that received these notices, twelve were summoned to appear before the tribunal. Eleven of these twelve decided to reply to tribunal via mail while one opted to be physically present before the tribunal. Out of these twelve cases, RIANZ has so far won only one, netting RIANZ a grand total of NZ$616.57 that the tribunal decided must be paid by the infringing New Zealander. It is unclear if the remaining eleven are still being tried of if the tribunal found them not guilty.

For that NZ$616.57, how much do you think RIANZ spent? According to them, they have so far spent NZ$250,000, the bulk of which has gone towards the NZ$25-per-notice RIANZ must pay to Internet companies to cover cost of sending notices to customers). In other words, a whopping return on investment of 0.25%.

Of course it should be mentioned that there are other non-monetary. For example, RIANZ says it believes most of the people who have received the notices have stopped pirating, which is what RIANZ is really looking for anyway. But, still, 0.25% return on what you have paid is pathetic.

[via The New Zealand Herald]