[AusNOG] Internet companies forced to block The Pirate Bay, bittorrent websites in Australia, Federal Court rules

[Mark Newton]

On Dec 15, 2016, at 4:56 PM, Ross Wheeler <ausnog at rossw.net> wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 15 Dec 2016, Nathan Brookfield wrote:
> 
>> The Federal Court has ordered internet companies to block five copyright-infringing websites, including torrent website The Pirate Bay.
> 
> So, the next questions are:
> * who tells us ISPs officially, what we have to block?

A court order.

> * when do they tell us.

After you have been named as a respondent in a Federal Court action, and been presented with an order.

> * does it only apply to the big-few, or everyone?

It applies to everyone who is named as a respondent in a Federal Court action under s115a and has subsequently received a court order.

> * if the previous answer is "everyone", who do we bill,
>   and do we have to "trust them" that it'll be paid, or can
>   we just send them the bill and not do anything until it is?

The previous answer isn’t “everyone.” You bill the claimant. The payment conditions will be in the court order.

> The phrase "tilting at windmills" springs to mind.

Yes, pointless exercise. Training Australians to use evasion methods; once they’re doing that, further enforcement action is ineffective, so driving them in that direction is practically indistinguishable from saying, “Meh, don’t care anymore.”

The overwhelming response I’ve seen to yesterday’s action is, “LOL.” I’m encouraged by that.

   - mark