American Movie Execs Could Face Aussie Jails For Hacking

pegacat points to a story in the Melbourne Age which says that "American movie, recording and software executives could be arrested if they travel to Australia, could be prohibited from entering Australia, or could be extradited to face criminal charges if Californian Democrat congressman Howard Berman's copyright protection bill, which allows cracking of computers, passes into law." That's because "Under section 9a of the Victorian Summary Offences Act (1966), 'a person must not gain access to, or enter, a computer system or part of a computer system without lawful authority to do so'. The penalty if convicted is up to six months' jail."

Comments

Amendment

[mrbrown1602]

One can only begin to imagine what this will bring - an amendment to the bill prohibiting extradition of media company execs to Australia.

Lawful authority?

[richie2000]

"without lawful authority to do so"

Wouldn't the bill be considered lawful authority? If Australian law can be applied to US citizens, it's likely (though I ain't anal) that US law would apply to those same citizens.

Then again, Australia has a long and distinguished record of being a penal colony for the British, maybe it's time to reinstate that concept and ship RIAA and MPAA execs, all of Arthur Andersen, and all Fortune 500 CEOs to a remote part of the Aussie outback. We can even turn it into a spectator sport - Survivor 2.0 - broadcasting it live with free Internet feeds from ROVs orbiting the area. "Will Bill Gates eat Steve Ballmer? Tune in tomorrow on Survivor 2.0, same time, same server!"

Re:Lawful authority?

[EasyTarget]

However not quite long enough to remove the chip from the shoulder obviously

Be British, Go to America, make a comment about 'Visiting the Colonies', listen to reaction, smile knowingly to yourself.

Be American, Go to Britain, make a comment about 'Having to save your asses in every war', listen to reaction, smile knowingly to yourself.

Trolling had a long aural tradition before Usenet was invented.

Steve the Crocodile Hunter

[Associate]

I envision Steve, the Crocodile Hunter, sneaking up on a Recording Exec and sticking his thumb up his bum hole. Ah, this one's angry! Look at his markings. He's a beaut'. Now ordinarily we would let him go. But, as it turns out this is one of the most dangerous creatures in the world. Up there with Lawyers and US Congressmen. No, instead, we're going to take this one back with us. We'll put him in a nice safe place where he can listen to Britney Spears all day long.

Re:Steve the Crocodile Hunter

[Pig Hogger]

I envision Steve, the Crocodile Hunter, sneaking up on a Recording Exec and sticking his thumb up his bum hole.

Why just the thumb? Let it have the whole fist!!!

Claim your prize!

[xant]

Dear [Michael Eisner]:

You have been selected as the winner of this month's fabulous appliance giveaway! You may claim your free Koala-brand washer/dryer set, Antarctic Refrigerator or Shrimp-On-The-Barbie barbecue set! Your plane ticket for coming to claim this prize is included in this envelope. Simply fly to Australia round-trip on us, and be available for us to capture on film as we photograph the winners*.

Don't delay - act now to claim your prize.

Sincerely,

Australian Bureau of Law Enforcement and Consumer Marketing

*In front and side shots

Good Aussie joke here

[A nonymous Coward]

When flying into the country, and the customs man asks if you have a criminal record, ask innocently, "Is that still a requirement?"