Australia’s Proposed Draconian Copyright Laws
The Australian Internet Industry Association (IIA) has issued a warning that changes to Australia’s copyright laws being rushed through Australian Parliament risk making criminals out of everyday Australians.
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“As an example,” said Mr Coroneos, “a family who holds a birthday picnic in a place of public entertainment (for example, the grounds of a zoo) and sings ‘Happy Birthday’ in a manner that can be heard by others, risks an infringement notice carrying a fine of up to $1320. If they make a video recording of the event, they risk a further fine for the possession of a device for the purpose of making an infringing copy of a song. And if they go home and upload the clip to the internet where it can be accessed by others, they risk a further fine of up to AUD$1320 for illegal distribution. All in all, possible fines of up to AUD$3960 for this series of acts – and the new offences do not require knowledge or improper intent. Just the doing of the acts is enough to ground a legal liability under the new ‘strict liability’ offences.”
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“The US Free Trade Agreement does not require Australia to go down this path, and neither US nor European law contain such far reaching measures. We at a total loss to understand how this policy has developed, who is behind it and why there is such haste in enacting it into law – with little if any public debate.”
Full story at http://www.gizmag.com/go/6501/, with contacts for the Attorney-General (Gonzales' cousin?), and the Parliament members who carry responsibility for this wonderful idea. It is hoped that the pockets they have no doubt had filled by supporters of the law will be sufficient to carry them through until they can get alternative employment after the next election.
The Australian Internet Industry Association (IIA) has issued a warning that changes to Australia’s copyright laws being rushed through Australian Parliament risk making criminals out of everyday Australians.
[...]
“As an example,” said Mr Coroneos, “a family who holds a birthday picnic in a place of public entertainment (for example, the grounds of a zoo) and sings ‘Happy Birthday’ in a manner that can be heard by others, risks an infringement notice carrying a fine of up to $1320. If they make a video recording of the event, they risk a further fine for the possession of a device for the purpose of making an infringing copy of a song. And if they go home and upload the clip to the internet where it can be accessed by others, they risk a further fine of up to AUD$1320 for illegal distribution. All in all, possible fines of up to AUD$3960 for this series of acts – and the new offences do not require knowledge or improper intent. Just the doing of the acts is enough to ground a legal liability under the new ‘strict liability’ offences.”
[...]
“The US Free Trade Agreement does not require Australia to go down this path, and neither US nor European law contain such far reaching measures. We at a total loss to understand how this policy has developed, who is behind it and why there is such haste in enacting it into law – with little if any public debate.”
Full story at http://www.gizmag.com/go/6501/, with contacts for the Attorney-General (Gonzales' cousin?), and the Parliament members who carry responsibility for this wonderful idea. It is hoped that the pockets they have no doubt had filled by supporters of the law will be sufficient to carry them through until they can get alternative employment after the next election.