[AusNOG] And it continues - ISP to block sites bill..

[Scott Weeks]

Someone very kindly emailed it to me.  I am putting 
it out there for anyone else who'd like to read it.

scott




Malcolm Turnbull targets net pirates in new bill

THE AUSTRALIAN
MARCH 27, 2015 12:00AM



International internet pirates who illegally share stolen films and music could soon be blocked, after the government introduced a bill to shut down access to websites infringing copyright.

The law will enable copyright holders to apply for court orders forcing ISPs such as Telstra to block a website providing links to pirated content.

If the bill is enacted, the legislation will be a major victory for content providers and could open the floodgates to claims by companies that want to stop internet users freely exchanging movies, television programs, music and games.

The move, which has been highly effective in Britain, is the latest response in a series of soft measures aimed at stamping out piracy following unprecedented industry co-operation between ISPs and content creators

The media and entertainment industries have already taken steps to make more content legally available in step with consumer consumption habits, including making eagerly awaited US TV dramas available to watch in Australia at the same time as they air overseas.

Other solutions include the adoption of the successful US graduated response scheme whereby ISPs issue notices to primary account-holders repeatedly violating copyright infringement rules.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced the The Copyright (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 yesterday, costing telcos an estimated $130,000 a year.

“Existing copyright law is not adequate to deter a specific type of infringing activity, which is the facilitation of the online infringement of copyright owners’ content ... by online operators,” Mr Turnbull said in the lower house. “There are a number of foreign-based online locations that disseminate large amounts of infringing content to Australian internet users.”

Under the proposal, rights holders can apply to the Federal Court for an injunction. The law applies only to sites hosted outside of Australia.

Mr Turnbull said existing remedies for rights holders seeking against websites in Australia were sufficient.

The bill has been drafted to also put file-sharing sites at risk of being blocked. Millions use these sites to move large files off their computers, holding the stolen material in the cloud. Internet users sometimes upload files such as music or films to enable others to access the material in breach of copyright.

It has been estimated that piracy has cost the Australian economy more than $1.3 billion in revenue in just 12 months.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft found piracy was widespread and was taking a massive toll on the movie industry.




























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