Government Cracks down on Piracy - Volunteer or Legislation
Friday 7 March 2014 @ 11.44 a.m. | IP & Media
Earlier this month, Attorney-General George Brandis announced that the government is considering implementing a scheme that would require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to issue notices to users who copyright owners have alleged have infringed on their works through downloading TV shows or movies.
The new Coalition government is putting back on the agenda a voluntary scheme for ISPs to issue warnings to users who infringe on copyright, an agenda that the previous Labor Government had attempted and failed.
Brandis said that he would prefer to establish such a scheme than to have the government legislating enforcement of copyright. However, he gave strong indication that such a voluntary scheme was the only way ISPs could avoid having legislation brought in forcing them to police copyright infringement.
Brandis said that downloading a video without paying for it "is an act of theft, it's pure and simple", and said ISPs have a responsibility to reduce infringement. While he does not suggest that ISPs are complicit in the act of illegal downloads, he insists that they should bear a measure of responsibility given that they provide the facility which enables it to happen.
He also emphasised that the government would be looking to make significant amendments to the Copyright Act 1963 (Cth) to bring it up to date.
TimeBase is an independent, privately owned Australian legal publisher specialising in the online delivery of accurate, comprehensive and innovative legislation research tools including LawOne and unique Point-in-Time Products.
