Customer warnings next step in battle to curb piracy
ISPs may be asked to issue piracy warnings to customers, and block sites where content can be illegally downloaded,
- Published by David Knox
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Attorney-General George Brandis may ask internet providers to issue warnings to customers, or block sites where content can be illegally downloaded, in a bid to curb online piracy in Australia.
“This may include looking carefully at the merits of a scheme whereby ISPs are required to issue graduated warnings to consumers who are using websites to facilitate piracy,” he said.
“Another option that some stakeholders have raised with me is to provide the Federal Court with explicit powers to provide for third party injunctions against ISPs, which will ultimately require ISPs to ‘take down’ websites hosting infringing content.”
Copyright holders like film and television studios have argued that it is ISPs’ role to prevent internet users from illegally downloading their content.
But in a landmark ruling in 2012, the High Court found provider iiNet was not responsible for its customers’ illegal activities.
ISPs say studies show such schemes where customers are given increasingly severe warnings don’t work.
The Australian Screen Association, which represents film and television studios and distributers, says it backs the measures proposed by Senator Brandis.
Foxtel recently confirmed it has secured the Australian rights to Game of Thrones next season, leaving it unavailable for legal download via iTunes. But the news had led to anger in social media and even some media were criticising the move by the Pay TV provider.
Source: ABC
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36 Responses
I don’t get this, are they going to attempt to block torrent sites? Because as soon as one is blocked more will take it’s place. And issuing warnings might scare off some but not all and they will find a way around it.
I agree networks and rights holders need to make content available in a timely manor but unless they dump all their shows on line you will never be able to please everyone for every show made in other countries.
Foxtel: too expensive
Commercial Free-to-air: not HD, timeslot shunting, incomplete series
ABC: not HD, ABC2=reality rubbish
SBS, HD but not enough content to interest me
As Foxtel hurtles towards irrelevancy, they should really look at the music and print media industry’s mistakes and try to adapt before it’s too late. This isn’t the way.
This has little to do with protecting the Australian film and television industry, it is all about securing a free trade agreement with the USA.
If the Libs bring this “internet filter” in I will never vote for them again.
I’ve long maintain that this isn’t an issue that can be tackled using legislation but by creating structural change in the way that television works in this country.
We are so behind in terms of access to media when compared to other parts of the world, and while that doesn’t excuse piracy it goes a very long way to explaining why it happens. It’s better to solve the issue rather than sticking a bandaid on.
The government should be encouraging the networks to evolve and match market expectations rather than trying to alter consumer habits. If we didn’t have such a tight and cosy industry then an service like Hulu could go a long way to achieving that…
@Sydney2K
Surely you are splitting hairs … it is basically an internet filter …
As others have said, how about some protection for the consumer … why are cinema, dvd, pay tv and other “legal” content prices so high in Aus? …
If you’re going to wag your finger at illegal downloaders, I hope you’re shaking your fist at the “foxtels”
I heard on the ten’s Olympic Coverage saying that people are not allowed to record or reproduce the Olympic Games without the written Consent from the IOC. What it means that this is under copyright laws. Why would the IOC have this type of strict policy for people recording the Olympic Games coverage?
Animal, the previous Labor government proposed introducing mandatory internet filtering of websites that might cause offence, such as racial and sexual preference villification, terrorism and extreme political content. However, critics complained that the government controld blacklist could be extended to topics the government of the day did not agree with, leading to the retention of free speech.
What George Brandis is proposing is for ISP’s to warn users about their internet download habits, and to force ISP to block links and remove pages hosting illegal material. In terms of blocking pages, it’s a very focused range of links and topics, not as wide as the Labor government proposed.
So, no hypocrisy at all.
Game of Thrones. Previously people could obtain the show completely legally in Australia via itunes for a few dollars an episode if they didn’t want to fork over $70 month (base package + ‘movies’) to Foxtel but now that Foxtel has locked up the content the only legal way to get is it have one’s pocket pillaged.
So where’s the protection for the viewer? Tip: There won’t be any.
Liberal Party, what a bunch of Hypocrites. They opposed the internet filtering when in opposition, and now they wanna bring it in, while in Government.
Senator George Brandis, you are a disgrace to the nation as Attorney General. Should be sacked.
You guys should watch Season 25 Episode 9 of the Simpsons it is an awesome episode and it deals with the piracy issue in a light hearted way the episode is called Steal This Episode lol
Seriously what should happen is when it airs in the US, UK or anywhere else it should be up for legal download somewhere like iTunes or something. People do this because they are sick of waiting months and months and months before they air.
Obviously the other option is that networks fast-track all shows but even then that isn’t going to stop everyone. That’s the problem with Australia.
Making ISP’s responsible for content infringement is fine as long as car manufacturers are held responsible for dangerous drivers… /s/
Murdoch is certainly getting things done through Tony Abbott and his cronies isnt he? That’s why we have slow internet!
You lose the argument as soon as you liken downloading a copy of a movie to stealing some goods. Copyright infringement is not theft. If it was, we wouldn’t need separate laws to deal with it.
However, it is illegal and no-one should feel that they have the right to watch a movie without compensating some entity in the legal supply chain. That being said, forcing ISPs to act as copyright police isn’t going to solve anything as there are many ways around any blocks that may be put in place.
This is simply about US content owners continuing to pressure the Australian govt via the Free Trade Agreement to shift the cost of detecting and fighting copyright infringement onto Australian ISPs.
Rightly or wrongly, while artificial market restrictions remain in place and prices in Australia are so much higher than the rest of the world, the illegal copying of all types of software will…
If you want to solve the problem then make it available legally and reliably online. Maybe both pay and free versions. That said I just want reliable internet. It’s never happened probably never will. Not for watching stuff. Just so I can look up information about bushfires and floods. Oh well wouldn’t want communications technology be reliable.
There are still other ways than torrenting to obtain a TV show or movies like sourcing Netflix, Hulu Plus etc. Australian networks shoot themselves in the foot, their treatment of programs push viewers to go elsewhere. I am not saying it is right that people do go elsewhere, its just what is happening.
Foxtel on the other hand is ridiculous. Their pricing is way too high for the bundles they offer, most of which offer channels people would not want should they be able to individually select channels. In the UK even the lowest income earners have SKY, because it’s the cheapest entertainment they can afford.
I don’t understand why are people upset about it. As @db said some people will find a way to download the content if they really want it whether our government or AACTA like it or not. I think what will happen is that people will just stop watching those shows and in long term even forget about them My life is not going to get worse if I don’t watch GoT or any other show. Like the $20 bananas you either buy them and whine about it or just buy something else that is equally good and cheaper.
@glennc Stealing bananas because they are $20 no that is not right, but it sure is tempting especially if you love Bananas.
Some of the rational of pirates is pretty hilarious. Just because acting within the law is annoying, inconvenient or costly doesn’t give permission to act illegally. It’s like hearing that it’s ok to steal a tv from a store because otherwise they make me wait in a queue, put up with small talk and pay for it.
Last time I checked, it’s not our right to illegally download movies/tv shows. Just because a Network chooses to alter the start/finish time, schedule etc, doesn’t give people the right to illegally download. I’m tired of the constant justification from some people as to why they do it.
Example, if my local supermarket put the price of bananas up to $20 a kilo does that give me the right to steal said bananas?? No, it doesn’t!
Is the government thick? The reason why Australians are the most pirated users in the world is the result of its channel’s mistreatment of TV shows (bumping them around, putting crap like promos even if they are no ad breaks, running late, etc.)
I’ve just renewed the subscription to my VPN…
“Another option that some stakeholders have raised with me……” says Brandis. Would these stakeholders be the actual creators of the intellectual property (TV programmes/movies etc) or would they happen to be the purchasers/resellers e.g Foxtel? The beginning of the Coalition’s payback to News Corp for its unwavering support? Surely not.
Not quite true. Screen Producers Assn have made pleas with Canberra over the issue. Even at the AACTA Awards AFI President Geoffrey Rush said “we know what you’re doing” or words to that effect.
Any hardcore entertainment fan will know how to find content on the Internet irrespective of what governments force ISPs to do. Content providers need to start treating the Australian viewing public with respect.
* provide content in HD
* provide it in a timely manner
* stick to schedules so that PVRs have a semblance of reliability
* and charge consumers an internationally comparable rate for their product