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Australia May Adopt DMCA-Style Copyright Regime

beaver1024 writes "Australia, desperate to garner more U.S. trade, has indicated that it is willing to follow a more stringent regime for protecting copyright. This follows attempts by MediaForce to force Australian ISPs to comply with U.S. DMCA provisions. I fear that due to the current Australian government's weak spineless nature, the harsh provisions of the DMCA will soon arrive in the land down under."

16 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. You go Australia! by PasteEater · · Score: 2, Funny

    The MPAA must be REALLY pissed off about all of the sharing of Kangaroo Jack down under. Of course, they will most likely get their way.

    *sigh*

    --
    There are two kinds of people in the world: those with loaded guns, and those who dig.
  2. Don't fear us! by SHEENmaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    As an American citizen I should tell Autralia not to fear us. We won't bomb your asses unless you give us damn good reason to.

    The MPAA may be sleeping with congress, but they can't afford the needed bribes to start a war. So long as we keep pirating movies they never will and the world will remain safe!

    I hereby confess to reverse engineering magnetic tapes. It was an act of civil disobedience. Come and get me.

    --
    You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
  3. Re:DAMN! by DanUltra · · Score: 3, Funny

    As an Australian also, I am also immensely disappointed. This only confirms my suspicions that my government is filled with greedy politicians.

    Anyhow, what are we going to do about it? Here's a few of my suggestions:

    1. Complain to our "representatives".
    2. Disobey.
    3. Create our own countries, outside the jurisdiction of evil legislation.
    4. Exercise our rights to free speech and, in the case of Free Software, print code on T-Shirts, in books, on mugs and, what the heck, on the Net. After all, how can free speech be overruled by lesser dmca-like laws, anyway?
    5. Stop using computers. Ugh. I don't like the sound of that.
    6. Cry and/or scream in horror (and shame).
    7. Rejoice that the media cartels will now profit even more, at our expense.

    Anyone have any more suggestsions?

    --
    Posted by DanUltra
  4. Australia is a backwards shithole by AbRASiON · · Score: 5, Funny

    Trust me, I live here :(

    If it's not Telstra fucking us with a Microsoft style monopoly, or "protect the people" revenue rais... whoops speed camera's - then it's senator Alston making us look like nearthandals tech wise "high speed internet is used only for porn"

    Then there's a new tax / levy introduced tri-monthly to help out some band of poor bastards - course they never see the money but we still get our wallets bent over and plowed.

    (I'm surprised I can still browse slashdot actually considering that "ISP's must ban content" clause that the government passed several years back.

    Oh oh and we pay a SHITLOAD for cars here too, like 15 metric assloads for a car, that's right this BIG fat country with 20 million people and you can't find a decent second hand car under 10,000$ - but our backwards sheep plowing neighbours in NZ can score ex Japanese imports in the 6000$ (NZ!) range... wheeeeee

    (sorry for the rant but I just have to do it now and then)

    I love this country *COUGH* (I've said this a million times now, but is there ANYONE out there in the states with a spare basement for me to live in!?!)

  5. (3) YRO in 6 hours by teamhasnoi · · Score: 3, Funny
    That's got to be a record!

    Hell, I said 'record'. Now I'll have to pay a fine of $250,000, undownload my 600 mp3s, sell my 12x CD burner (equivelent to 347) and have to move my offices to the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

  6. New spin on the Men-At-Work song by vodka2112 · · Score: 2, Funny

    New laws in a land down under
    Where creativity is cast asunder
    Can't you see, can't you see your blunder ?
    You better run, you better fix it over

    No seriously, this is getting sadder and sadder. Does Australia even have a body analogous the EFF to lobby against this ? Someone really oughta step up and question the validity of a law which so blatantly throws consumer rights out the window.

    The whole system is screwed, I tell ya.
    --
    All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand.
  7. Re:DAMN! by mcbridematt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Proposal:

    Convert all Anti-War protestors to anti-DMCA protestors.

    If I only knew the PM's email. Don't expect Senator Alston to reply and listen.. as promised .. because he's trying to work on it .. as promised

  8. Re:Where is safe haven? by Jugalator · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have come to the conclusion that the only way to get away from these stupid laws, and stay away from them in the future, is to create SlashNation, where attempts to keep any forms of information, such as source code, secret has a death penalty. CowboyNeal for president!

    This might provide solutions to your points mentioned above except the first "1st world type living". The Geeks of SlashNation would have a long way to get there, but I'm sure we can do it!

    --
    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  9. Re:DAMN! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    Well, as an Autralian citizen, I must say I'm very disappointed. I'll complain to my local MP straight away.

    "Ooh! Ah, that's it. I'm going to report this to me member of parliament. Hey, Gus! I got something to report to you."

  10. I think I can safely say.. by EvilCabbage · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... Fuck.

  11. I love a sunburnt country... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    .. where noses are as brown as the soil.

  12. Re:DAMN! by Kronovohr · · Score: 2, Funny

    3. Create our own countries, outside the jurisdiction of evil legislation.

    Several states in the US tried this years ago, and they were far better armed. I doubt you'll have that much of a chance.

  13. little harsh considering by phrostie · · Score: 2, Funny

    a little harsh to call the Australian leaders names considering we americans let some F@#$% A$$ from ArKansas pass the damm thing to beguin with.

    no it was not Bush who passed it.

  14. statement from the Hilary Rosen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    DMCA in the land down under? Where we'll go and then plunder? She said, are you trying to tempt me? loss of freedom's not much to pay! [then it got garbled, her mouth was full, something about a vegemite sandwich]

  15. Something like this? by FosterKanig · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bruno: Ooh! Ah, that's it. I'm going to report this to me member of parliament.
    [yells out window] Hey, Gus! I got something toreport to you. [Gus tends his swine]
    Gus: That's a bloody outrage, it is! I want to take this all the way to the Prime Minister.
    [they go down to a lake] Hey! Mr. Prime Minister! Andy!
    Andy: [floating naked on an inner tube with a beer] Eh, mates! What's the good word?

  16. Australia Should HATE Hollywood by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why the hell are they backing down and complying? If anything, they should be pissed off at the US Entertainment Industry for insulting them with that damned "Kangaroo Jack" movie...

    --
    Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man