The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) has applied for three Internet users to be brought before the Copyright Tribunal and fined for their alleged copyright infringement, reports Baldwins.

Assuming that the current applications have been made in accordance with the the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011 (within 35 days of the relevant enforcement notices and adequately detailed) and the proceedings are allowed, these might well be the first reported proceedings under any three-strikes system for copyright infringement.

While the current maximum fine is set at $15,000, fines issued by the Copyright Tribunal could be as low as a few hundred dollars.

Regardless of quantum, it appears that New Zealand will be one of the first countries in the world to follow through with its three-strikes legislation.