Read Arts Law’s response to the Online Copyright Infringement discussion paper

On 30 July 2014, the Attorney-General, George Brandis, and the Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull released a discussion paper concerning online copyright infringement for public comment. The discussion paper focuses on ways the Government can crack down on internet piracy.

The background to the discussion paper is that following the High Court decision in Roadshow Films Pty Ltd & Ors v iiNet Ltd (2012) there were discussion between rights holders (such as Roadshow Films) and internet service providers (ISPs – such as iiNet) to see whether an agreement could be reached as to a scheme to address online copyright infringement. Those negotiations have failed to reach an agreement.

The discussion paper states:

“The Government is looking to industry to reach agreement on appropriate industry schemes or commercial arrangements on what would constitute ‘reasonable steps’ to be taken by ISPs. The Government does not have fixed views on what such schemes or arrangements should look like—it expects that approaches will vary over time as new strategies and technologies are developed.”

Read Arts Law's response to the Online Copyright Infringement discussion paper here.