Janet writes,
> Copyright actions are used as a means to censor
> content. GetUp are facing one currently
> https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/great-barrier-reef
> --3/adani-video/someone-wants-to-silence-us-dont-let-them
T'would appear our traditional, fair-enough copyright concept
is now corrupt, with any number leeching and bottom feeding ...
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/blog/gadgets-on-the-go
Advice from Google and others that piracy is primarily a "pricing and
availability" problem has fallen on deaf ears, the government would rather
listen to the likes of Village Roadshow.
And, Hollywood demands government help so it can keep ripping us off.
The leaked Online Copyright Infringement discussion paper, obtained last Friday
by news website Crikey, is pretty much what we expected from Australia's
federal government. The opening statement pays lip service to ensuring that
"content is accessed easily and at a reasonable price". The rest is dedicated
to outlining harsher penalties and technical countermeasures which are doomed
to fail.
It would be great to see Attorney-General George Brandis and Communications
Minister Malcolm Turnbull jump to the defence of Australian consumers – whom
they supposedly represent – as quickly as they jump to the defence of the
powerful copyright lobby group. Advice from Google and others that piracy is
primarily a "pricing and availability" issue has fallen on deaf ears, the
government would rather listen to the likes of Village Roadshow.
The Online Copyright Infringement discussion paper feels like the work of a
government which wants to be seen to be acting, rather than a government which
actually wants to address the underlying problem. Where's the discussion paper
considering the impact of this year's Foxtel Game of Thrones deal on consumer
choice, or what might happen if Murdoch gains control over both HBO and Foxtel?
While we're at it, where's the discussion paper considering the role of
parallel import laws in the digital age and the impact of geoblocking on
consumer price gouging when it comes to entertainment? Last year's IT pricing
enquiry had a lot to say about Microsoft and Adobe but very little to say about
Hollywood.
Just like region-coding on discs, geoblocking exists so movie studios can get
away with offering Australians less and charging us more simply because we're
Australian. Rather than addressing this issue, it seems the government is happy
to support a ban on circumventing "technological measures" – which might
include geoblocking – as part of the secretive Trans Pacific Partnership trade
agreement.
It's been explained time and again how easy it is to bypass any technological
countermeasures put forward to thwart piracy and geo-dodging. You don't need to
be a geek to master the use of proxies and Virtual Private Networks in order to
side-step the internet service provider-level site blocking proposed in the
discussion paper. There are even browser plugins which let you beat site
filtering with a single click.
Most people are prepared to do the right thing given the chance, unless they
feel like they're being ripped off. Content providers have been screwing
Australians for years. Now that consumers have finally found a way to fight
back, the industry is demanding government help so it can continue to screw us.
Rather than put up laughably ineffective roadblocks to appease its powerful
friends, the government would better serve the people by addressing the reasons
why we break the law. Until it does, people won't respect rules which are
designed to ensure that Australians are treated as second-class citizens.
On 28 July 2014 00:57, Stephen Loosley <stephenloos...@outlook.com> wrote:
Australian Government
Online Copyright Infringement Discussion Paper
http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/copyright.pdf
Responses: copyrightconsultat...@ag.gov.au by 25/8/2014
Cheers,
Stephen
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