Draconian Anti-Piracy Law Looms Over Australia

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Sunday November 19, 2006 @01:02PM from the we-are-all-criminals-now dept.

ccozan writes to tell us of a law being rushed through the Australian legislature that would criminalize great swaths of the citizenry. The Internet Industry Association of Australia is posting warning scenarios spelling out how far-reaching this law would be. From the release: "A family who holds a birthday picnic in a place of public entertainment (for example, the grounds of a zoo) and sings 'Happy Birthday' in a manner that can be heard by others, risks an infringement notice carrying a fine of up to $1,320. If they make a video recording of the event, they risk a further fine for the possession of a device for the purpose of making an infringing copy of a song... The US Free Trade Agreement does not require Australia to go down this path, and neither US nor European law contain such far-reaching measures. We are at a total loss to understand how this policy has developed, who is behind it and why there is such haste in enacting it into law — with little if any public debate."

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Re:Get ready, mate. by cayenne8 · 2006-11-19 15:45 · Score: -1, Offtopic

"Yes, but you usians have the option to shoot the lawyers when they come to serve you the subpoena."
Funny...but, a slight correction. The proper term for US citizens is "Americans".
usians means nothing.....

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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Draconian = dragons? by ILuvRamen · 2006-11-19 16:15 · Score: -1, Offtopic

So...they're going to have dragons enforce anti-piracy laws? What's draconian mean? lol

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Re:Americans by Anonymous Coward · 2006-11-20 01:22 · Score: -1, Offtopic

My sister was once bitten by a moose.