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Australia To Review Copyright Fair Use
New submitter freddienumber13 writes "The Australian Government has announced a review of the copyright act to look at the provisions of fair use and exceptions with a view towards considering whether or not the law has kept pace with technology and thus if further provisions are required to ensure the act remains relevant and effective."
Don't hold your breath; the committee has until November 30th, 2013 to create their report. Maybe Australians will see their Fair Use rights expanded in a time when it's in fashion to expand copyright protections.
Maybe Australians will see their Fair Use rights expanded in a time when it's in fashion to expand copyright protections.
After spraying my keyboard with Pepsi, I honestly couldn't stop laughing....
Good luck with that.
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After what seems like years of having Europe and America laugh at our foolish ISP filtering proposals, our crazy tech and content prices, maybe... just maybe, we will lead the way and have everyone cheer us instead.
Aussie aussie aussie, free! free! free!
"I split coffee all over my wife's nightie
Considering past news coming from Australia, I wouldn't be surprised if Fair Use became even more restricted after the review.
The file-sharing issue aside, I believe copyrights shouldn't be used like patents on ideas, where mere similarity in plot, character or overall design becomes grounds for suing the developer of another work. For instance, fanfiction should be legalised, where there's a clear distinction between the author of the original work and the author of the derivative.
The scope of the inquiry will include the impact of legislative solutions and their consistency with Australia’s international obligations
So, this means Australians won't be getting anything that goes against SOPA 2.0, also known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Even ACTA pales in comparison.
And, yes, in both cases it was the USA, in particular USTR Ron Kirk, who is the primarily responsible entity.
As an Australian and as a rights holder (who supports CC, fair use, fanfiction, parody/satire, etc) who sees the constant encroachment of the MPAA/RIAA/etc into our legal system, this is only going one way.
Away from expanding Fair Use. Which is a shame.
Check out my sci-fi book "Lacuna" at http://goo.gl/MVxX8
Fair use rights will shrink to fall into line with the USA.
Rule 34, here it comes!
My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
Rule 34/slashfiction/etc is legally protected assuming it's licensed correctly.
I want to be very clear about that point. I don't necessary have to agree with, or like, whatever someone writes using that document. That's the whole point.
Anyone who uses it does *not* need my approval and even my explicit disapproval will not remove their protection, again, assuming they're following the licence correctly.
Check out my sci-fi book "Lacuna" at http://goo.gl/MVxX8
Good luck with that.
You're new to this government thing, aren't you? In all the decades you have been reading ALRC reports, or the reports of other government appointed inquiries for that matter, when have you ever read "everything is OK as it is, and we have no recommendations?"
Read between the lines of the terms of reference. The ALRC has been asked to "to consider whether existing exceptions are appropriate and whether further exceptions should recognise fair use of copyright material ..." Are existing exceptions anywhere near appropriate, say in ensuring "fair use" such as it might be understood in the US? ALRC is going to have hard time answering that in the affirmative! The further exceptions they are being asked to devise should you know. And they will ...
This is another step towards harmonising our law with that of the US and for a change from all the punitive harmonisations, this will introduce some small measure of freedom. It is well known that the government has for some time wanted to introduce some kind of fair use provision into Australian copyright law. Just don't expect an overly broad one.
Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident a security. --Edmund Burke
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How much do you want to bet their conclusions are that "Fair use" is an outdated concept and should be eliminated all together? Seems like a far more likely outcome than anything beneficial.
...one that's balking at climate change, grudgingly promising not stop the National Broadband Network roll out and is portraying gays and dark people asmythical job-stealing closet monsters. So while they're dragging us back to the dark ages, I can totally see them siding with a progressive view of 'fair use'.
More than likely they'll be sticking anyone caught torrenting in the stocks while dirty faced children throw vegetables at them.
Rule 34/slashfiction/etc is legally protected assuming it's licensed correctly.
I want to be very clear about that point. I don't necessary have to agree with, or like, whatever someone writes using that document. That's the whole point.
Anyone who uses it does *not* need my approval and even my explicit disapproval will not remove their protection, again, assuming they're following the licence correctly.
Yeah yeah. You post and you post in this story. All your posts can be summed up to: "I wrote something, I am special, pay attention to ME!"
This review is coming as a result of the win Optus had in time shifting FTA television to their mobile phone service. Telstra/Foxtel's loss in the court has prompted the review as they had paid significant amount for exclusive mobile broadcast of Australian rules football.
The review will probably less to increased restrictions to protect rights holders.
Yep, since you took interest. Ten million big throbbers just waiting for your welcoming lips.
you don't live in this century, do you?
There was an unknown error in the submission.
In his Honer
The Deed and Title is held by The Crown
Crystal clear, stars in the sky, so clear so bright,
Star dust , mind overhead
She’s squealing in my ears, cats at the door,
Demons screaming through my mind the’re all dead on the floor
No desire, she’s star shot she’s a sparkle in time
Spinning the world watching them fall from the sky.
Snatching at the wall, howling in the night, world so beautiful,
So real, You’re spinning the world with me tonight Gurl.
Passion in the sky, baby girl in the light, eye to the mind
She’s putting stars in the sky
I stand in a field holding the keys to the village claiming The Crown
At Her Majesty's Service - The Commonwealth
Funny who pops up on slashdot when the australian government is involved
lets just say the world works in strange ways,things happen for a reason,and its nothing to do with myself.
In my opinion, if someone puts in the time and effort to produce something genuinely creative and original that furthers the intellectual state of the human race, they deserve some attention.
I'm going to go read a draft about a universe now...
You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
I will only fairly use what dear leader allows me to use.
the committee has until November 30th, 2013 to create their report.
The scope of the inquiry will include the impact of legislative solutions and their consistency with Australia’s international obligations and government reviews and their recommendations, such as the Convergence Review.
Just in time for ACTA (without the EU) and TPP to be finalized. How convenient.
When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
Last month, Hilary Clinton visited Australia and signed some secret deals with our politicians. The government has already admitted they're giving the US a proper military base in this country: Not just listening posts and R&D sites. Given the ACTA being pushed through parliaments of other nations, it's not difficult to imagine who those deals benefited. This is just the process required to change the law so their masters are happy. 'International obligations' is a weasel word.
The scope of the inquiry will include the impact of legislative solutions and their consistency with Australia’s international obligations and government reviews and their recommendations, such as the Convergence Review.
Just in time for ACTA (without the EU) and TPP to be finalized. How convenient.
Indeed. The politicians are a lot of cowards, too scared to try to advance their schemes to the public on their own merits. Instead they sign treaties such as ACTA and TPP behind closed doors and soon after begin to run about all Shocked and Alarmed that their country isn't living up to its so-called obligations.
I was wondering what the Treaty between America and Australia contained, obviously a revision of copyright... hmmm....
How do I get to this universe of yours? Sounds like a lovely place.
Stephen Conroy is a douche. Never trust an Australian who doesn't drink.
Indeed- it's well known that he was kicked out of the University of Woolloomooloo for breaking rule #4 (they don't want to catch anybody not drinking). There were also moves to kick him out under rules #1, #3, #5 and #7, but he maintained he wasn't a poofter.
Also, the fact that his name isn't "Bruce" caused too much confusion.
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Nobody cares for your opinion here you jackass.