Australia To Adopt U.S.-Style Copyright Laws

An anonymous reader submits "Australia has just announced that it has finalized a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Included in the treaty is an agreement for Australia to implement American-style DMCA copyright laws, extensions to the term of copyright, and an agreement to move towards American-style patent and trademark laws (and we all know how well those work, don't we.) I suppose this is the misery-loves-company school of treaty negotiation."

Comments

Re:Not through yet

[subStance]

Um ... well I think the following suggests not everyone is convinced about the pharma situation being ok

From Sydney Morning Herald. Quarantine standards would be downgraded, Americans would be able to circumvent investment rules and American drug companies would get the opportunity to override the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that provides cheap drugs to Australians, the Greens said.

And when was the last time the senate actually protected us from Howard's ass kissing ? We're not better off than the American public are with Bush.

Americans keep talking about "Checks and balances" being the alternative to Dictatorial style government. The proof is in the pudding ....

Re:Singapore Already on board

[Excen]

Singapore? Who gives a damn if Singapore is tightening "justice". If I remember correctly, the last time Singapore was in (American) National News was when that kid spraypainted a few cars. They punished the asshat by beating his sorry ass with a very large bamboo cane!!! It's not like they can get any stricter.

/mark me funny and give me my points