The Copyright Amendment Bill 2015 is the result of a blatant lobbying (and a recently signed free trade agreement) by the big Hollywood studios, and Foxtel to veto access to overseas streaming-sites / torrenting-sites by Australian internet consumers.
In essence, the Copyright Amendment Bill 2015 will allow any business entity or rights-holder to approach an Australian federal court judge to get overseas torrenting websites blocked (or any other website hosting illegally-procured copyrighted content)
Yes, it's being viewed as the thin edge of a very large, and lengthy wedge in relation to 'internet-censorship' in Australia.There are valid concerns that many legitimate websites will be caught-up in this 'witch-hunt' by our Aussie internet gatekeepers.
VPNs, and similar modes will offer Australians a way to circumvent the 'blocking'. But at the end of the day, why should Aussie internet-users have to turn to such means ( internet-access not so free anymore)
Some may cynically state that the Australian government is not governing in favour of the Aussie constituency, but instead 'governs' for the 'United States of Rupert Murdoch'
Apparently our 'beloved' Rupert is in the process of handing-over the Murdoch mantle to one of his sons.
Blocking it won't stop it, those damn fools. People will just find another way.
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Am I the only one waiting and hoping (praying) for the current generation of corporation running scum bags to die off, so maybe, JUST MAYBE, we can have a society where everything doesn't suck?
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It seems all these 'nameless' old men of the corporate world are dictating how we should conduct our digital-lives (Rupert, Lowell McAdam et al)
It's a shame that someone like Anonymous hasn't had the idea to expose the dirty secrets of their lives. Like trips to Thailand for....horrible things, etc.
Even if only to get them fired.
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The trouble is there are always other corporate leeches in the wings ready to take their place.
There you go, reminding me of reality, destroying my hopes and dreams :'(
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It seems Australia isn't immune from passing ridiculous internet laws; Germany has passed a statute that people can only purchase 'adult ebooks' between the hours of 10pm, and 6am.
If the book retailers are caught selling 'adult ebooks' outside of the prescribed times, they face a fine of 500,000 euros or $735,000 Australian dollars.
Do they realize that there are literally thousands of websites that offer free, amateur written, erotic literature? Who the hells buys an adult ebook? lol
An aspect of the whole 'piracy debate' that is overlooked, is why 'digital-piracy' exists in the first place, and that is mainly the exorbitant cost (and cost comparisons).
Just looking at hardware for example: in Australia the GTX 970 2.0 4gb card retails for around $470 Australian dollars, the same card in America would be approximately $368 US dollars (based upon $Aus to $US conversion)
And we don't need to go into the debate about the 10% GST (1.1) being added to online software purchases compounding the problem of piracy etc.
as you stated witch hunt, it reminded me of very similar situation in redenia/novigrad in witcher 3.
isn't there oversight for governmental actions. run for the people by the people? the fundumental problem is that american greed has now trickled into australia. i'd be fucked if i pay 20 odd dollars for a bluray that an american can pick up from a bargain bin. the distribution model sucks and geoblocking doesn't help.
case in point. isps couldn't handle the amount of traffic netflix introduced when it arrived here. my isp throttles netflix during peak because internet is painfully slow when everyone starts streaming. keep in mind. we don't even get the full array of content that americans get. i believe if content is fairly priced and available in the format people want to watch it; blu ray or streaming, people will buy content instead of pirating.
also when the infrastructure and the drm policies we have in place are so stupid, can you blame people for pirating?
i bought black flag gold edition on day 1. i couldn't play it but people who pirated the damn thing could. and people who pirated it didnt need to use ubisofts fucked up uplay to play the damn game.
i don't know what the future holds, but i hope someone smart and reasonable will soon come and change the way these old infallible farts think. maybe tell them to solve the underlying problems instead of taking away a platform that has other uses in stead of pirating content.
netflix spotify are the 2 content providers i use to support content that i like. if there was ever a platform that could sate all my needs while providing a pleasant experience. i would hop on that ship without a second thought,
heres hoping all those dinosaurs die out soon and positive change comes
Its an absolute joke, our government only favors the rich. When elected they are meant to be the voice of those who voted for them (Not that I did). But its absurd when all you hear coming from their mouths is their own opinion, ignoring the facts, advisers, scientist, its citizens and recent history (aka England's ban on porn). Things like this simply do not work, they waste money and ignore the real issue; that we need to do away with geo-blocks, and as stated above prices us fairly there is no reason other than greed to put such a mark up on electronics, software and other goods.
cameron is a world class twat but he is the lesser of 2 evils,
i'd vote out of decency just to keep ukip the fuck away from coloured people!
pps we are some of the worlds most backwards when it comes to technology. i think its absurd in this day and age with the technology available to say that we will gouge you for money because you live in upside down land where nobody can reach you.
why can't we have our own elon musk :(
an australian space program and electrical dependance on renewable energies would be nice.
imagine making an interstate roadtrip in a tesla with fast charge stations all over the place to keep you nice and happy.
electrical trucks that take your goods would be the next step with solar assisted top panels
space program not necessarily to launch kangaroos into space but to reap the tech that is created from it.
really in awe of his vacuum train solution/gedankan. we need that kind of innovation if we are to dictate a substantially brighter future. especially if it means we can overcome some of the bigger problems we face.
That would be the dream, but for now we are stuck with the puppet that is the liberal party. And to be honest the fact that labor also voted for this makes me doubt the entirety of the opposition and the government as a whole.
I wish the the shortsightedness of the government will end soon. The only way we will become a world player again is to embrace technology and renewable energies.
That's the sad part of this legislation being passed, the Bill Shorten-led Labor opposition just sat back, and allowed the bill to be passed (what opposition?)
Paul Fletcher, secretary to the minister for communications speaking in favour of the Copyright Amendment Bill 2015 to the parliament.
*click-on the Youtube cog to view in 480p
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Apparently Village Roadshow made extremely large financial donations to both Abbott's coalition party, and the Australian Labor Party, so the passing of this bill was a foregone conclusion.
why is this legal. monetary contribution should never dictate political positions. you shouldn't be able to buy off politicians to get your agenda. for the people by the people, thats how it should be.
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