Draconian Anti-Piracy Law Looms Over Australia 436
ccozan writes to tell us of a law being rushed through the Australian legislature that would criminalize great swaths of the citizenry. The Internet Industry Association of Australia is posting warning scenarios spelling out how far-reaching this law would be. From the release: "A family who holds a birthday picnic in a place of public entertainment (for example, the grounds of a zoo) and sings 'Happy Birthday' in a manner that can be heard by others, risks an infringement notice carrying a fine of up to $1,320. If they make a video recording of the event, they risk a further fine for the possession of a device for the purpose of making an infringing copy of a song... The US Free Trade Agreement does not require Australia to go down this path, and neither US nor European law contain such far-reaching measures. We are at a total loss to understand how this policy has developed, who is behind it and why there is such haste in enacting it into law — with little if any public debate."
Get ready, mate. (Score:1, Funny)
think of it this way (Score:3, Funny)
I'm not worried (Score:4, Funny)
Well, given that that Draco died in the 6th century BC, I doubt he'll have much luck enforcing his law.
Re:think of it this way (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Get ready, mate. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Crikey! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wow... (Score:3, Funny)
Canada? Does that count as 'English language'?
Or have you heard of a place called 'New Zealand'? Small set of islands to the East of Australia...
Re:Civil Disobedience (Score:2, Funny)
err, 4 times. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:it isn't that bad... (Score:5, Funny)
Happy birthday to you
This song's seventy-two
But each time I sing it
I still must pay you
- RG>
Re:I'm not worried (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Howard's a cunt (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Well, that's simple! (Score:3, Funny)
... that is a vassal of Great Britain, and the United States.
Re:They almost made Linux illegal too (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Proud to be an Aussie (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Get ready, mate. (Score:1, Funny)
So South Americans can't be called "Americans"?
How very odd that the USA would take the word "America" for itself! That's unlike the USA, to just take something.
Then again, I suppose all the other nations in the continent of North and South America would really rather NOT be known as Americans.
Re:Get ready, mate. (Score:2, Funny)