I realise that this posting is kind of old now, but this is important. A lot of the questions that have been asked about chipping for imported games or back-up copies can be answered in Australian IT's follow-up article Digital copyright 'window dressing'. Apparently it is legal to chip for playing imported games - as long as the chip is not also capable of playing copied games. (There are different types of chips). Also, regards the comment about how they enforce it - they are going after the commercial operators not the consumers. It is not illegal to use a chipped machine, so if you've already got it done it's okay.
You Americans are obsessed by guns. At least we don't have massacres in high schools. Sorry, but I see gun control as common sense and nothing to do with civil liberties.
I spoke to a lawyer about this today and he said that the story was a beat-up. However he also said that an e-mail is a literary work and therefore subject to copyright. (I believe this to be the case everywhere and I don't think the new law has changed anything). However he said that fair use would allow you to forward the email, just like you can presently photocopy a letter.
The Attorney General has issued a press release refuting the claims in The Sunday Telegraph.
Here is a quote from the release: "Contrary to alarmist media reports, sharing e-mail is not banned by law. Amendments to the Copyright Act that came into effect today do not outlaw the practice of forwarding personal e-mails to other people. That would be ridiculous."
You're an arrogant, ignorant fool.
You should take a good look in the mirror some time. Do you really think the rest of the world is full of universal admiration for the US? Yes, I have met smart Americans, but I've also come across appalling pig-headed ignorance
Have you ever even been to Australia? There are a lot of smart Aussies still in Australia. Sure, Australia, like other small countries, has a problem with brain drain. That has more to do with things like taxes and salaries than anything else.
If you read discussions on Australian news sites, you'll find that many Australians disagree with such things as the new net censorship laws. We live in a democracy and we'll have our opportunity to change these things at the next election, if not before.
Don't trust what you read in a Murdoch-owned Sunday tabloid! The story is a beat-up and the Attorney General has issued a statement saying it's false.
Forwarding email was probably a technical breach of copyright already and I don't think this law changed anything. That's probably true for the US as well as Australia.
Even if it were covered under copyright law, it's not like the government is going to go around enforcing it. It would up to the copyright holder to sue. Good luck to them - I don't think any judge would rule in their favour!
Slashdot Mirror
Sorry - the URL didn't resolve. Here it is again: Digital copyright 'window dressing'. Slashdot people - I reckon this is worth adding to the intro.
I realise that this posting is kind of old now, but this is important. A lot of the questions that have been asked about chipping for imported games or back-up copies can be answered in Australian IT's follow-up article Digital copyright 'window dressing'. Apparently it is legal to chip for playing imported games - as long as the chip is not also capable of playing copied games. (There are different types of chips). Also, regards the comment about how they enforce it - they are going after the commercial operators not the consumers. It is not illegal to use a chipped machine, so if you've already got it done it's okay.
Even better (for us Aussies) is the fact that Handspring will now be in Australia. Read this article from Australian IT.
- you gave permission for the email to be forwarded
- the email was not an original literary work
And if a court found copyright infringement (unlikely) the damages would be miniscule.You Americans are obsessed by guns. At least we don't have massacres in high schools. Sorry, but I see gun control as common sense and nothing to do with civil liberties.
There is no criminal offence. It would be up to the copyright owner to sue and I don't think they'd get very far.
Breach of copyright is not a criminal offence. It's up to the copyright owner (ie the person who wrote the email) to sue.
I spoke to a lawyer about this today and he said that the story was a beat-up. However he also said that an e-mail is a literary work and therefore subject to copyright. (I believe this to be the case everywhere and I don't think the new law has changed anything). However he said that fair use would allow you to forward the email, just like you can presently photocopy a letter.
Sorry the link is: http://www.law.gov.au/aghome/agnews/2001newsag/931 _01.htm
The Attorney General has issued a press release refuting the claims in The Sunday Telegraph. Here is a quote from the release: "Contrary to alarmist media reports, sharing e-mail is not banned by law. Amendments to the Copyright Act that came into effect today do not outlaw the practice of forwarding personal e-mails to other people. That would be ridiculous."
You're an arrogant, ignorant fool. You should take a good look in the mirror some time. Do you really think the rest of the world is full of universal admiration for the US? Yes, I have met smart Americans, but I've also come across appalling pig-headed ignorance Have you ever even been to Australia? There are a lot of smart Aussies still in Australia. Sure, Australia, like other small countries, has a problem with brain drain. That has more to do with things like taxes and salaries than anything else. If you read discussions on Australian news sites, you'll find that many Australians disagree with such things as the new net censorship laws. We live in a democracy and we'll have our opportunity to change these things at the next election, if not before.
Don't trust what you read in a Murdoch-owned Sunday tabloid! The story is a beat-up and the Attorney General has issued a statement saying it's false. Forwarding email was probably a technical breach of copyright already and I don't think this law changed anything. That's probably true for the US as well as Australia. Even if it were covered under copyright law, it's not like the government is going to go around enforcing it. It would up to the copyright holder to sue. Good luck to them - I don't think any judge would rule in their favour!