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Hollywood Muscles Aussie ISPs Over Movie Downloading

Posted by timothy on from the beside-the-law dept.

Tenaka Kahn writes "Whirlpool is reporting that American movie companies are using a company (MediaForce) to try and muscle Aussie ISPs into disconnecting users who indulge in movie sharing."

3 of 350 comments (clear)

  1. Why are they bothering? by driptray · · Score: 5, Informative

    With 1 GB or 3 GB transfer caps, and very expensive per MB charges for data transfers in excess of this, Australian broadband users are hardly likely to be sharing any movies.

  2. socialist legal help by serps · · Score: 4, Informative

    I imagine that about now, a whole bunch of small Aussie ISPs are pooling some cash for legal advice on exactly what they are liable for. IANAL, but such things as "common carrier" provisions, "Fair Use" and so forth are not the same as in the US. For instance, you can't tape television shows on your VCR in Australia. (warning: PDF links abound).

    More info on Australian copyright law is available from the Australian Copyright Council. Interesting links:

    --
    "Einstein argued that [...] God is not capricious or arbitrary. No such faith comforts the software engineer." ~ Brooks
  3. Re:Once again... you assume too much. by FatZZ · · Score: 4, Informative
    Australia it is not illegal to give away copyrighted material, only if you sell it.
    you are 100% incorrect.
    If you're going to say someone is 100% incorrect, you should quote 100% of their post. Specifically, the next sentence:
    If you give it away it is considered a matter of the civil courts.

    Clearly the person you replied to was confused about the meaning of 'illegal' vs. 'criminal', else they would not have said that the civil courts deal with it.

    This has some basis in law. Compare the section of the Copyright Act 1968 dealing with civil actions to the section dealing with criminal offences. You will find that the criminal offences only deal with copyright infringement where there's money involved or where it occurs to an extent that will prejudicially affect the owner of the copyright. In other cases it is a civil, not criminal, matter.

    The Australian Copyright Council also has an information sheet on the topic.