Leaks have revealed how the Australian government plans to combat piracy...

 

 

 

“There are a number of factors that contribute to online copyright infringement in Australia. These factors include the availability and affordability of lawful content, the case with which consumers can access unlawful material and consumer awareness of legitimate services,” the government wrote.

 

The Australian government finally looks like it understands some of the reasons why people pirate content.

 

However, they plan on blocking websites commonly used for piracy, such as the Pirate Bay. The people who own the copyrights will have to pay the legal bill to get websites blocked, so at least tax payers won't be paying for Australia's anti-piracy crusade.

 

 

 

“A…provision in Australian law could enable rights holders to take action to block access to a website offering infringing material without the need to establish that a particular ISP has authorised an infringement. If adopted, any proposed amendment would be limited to websites operated outside Australia as rights holders are not prevented from taking direct action against websites operated within Australia,” the government wrote.

 

The government also wants proof of the piracy levels in Australia, which is a good idea, since there has been no evidence to back up claims that Australians pirate the most material.

 

While nothing is set in stone, hopefully these policies don't spread to New Zealand. Punishing pirates hasn't worked in the past, so I don't think these measures will reduce piracy levels. Australians and New Zealanders need alternative ways to pay for their television and movies, because currently we do not have access to the range of streaming sites that Americans do, so piracy is seen as the only way to watch certain things.

 

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/07/leaked-australian-government-plan-to-deal-with-piracy/

If people do illegal things and get in trouble with the law that's their problem. They know if something is illegal when they do it. Their risk.

I don't think it's going to be easy to stop something so widespread.

If people do illegal things and get in trouble with the law that's their problem. They know if something is illegal when they do it. Their risk.

 

The problem is that traditional anti-piracy techniques (threatening people, blocking sites) just doesn't work. Copyright holders don't want to spend thousands to prosecute someone for something minor and pirates can avoid most things governments attempt.

 

The only solution to this problem is competitive services becoming available in New Zealand/Australia. Most people want to pay for stuff, but everything is disproportionately more expensive here, for less of a service.

The problem is that traditional anti-piracy techniques (threatening people, blocking sites) just doesn't work. Copyright holders don't want to spend thousands to prosecute someone for something minor and pirates can avoid most things governments attempt.

 

The only solution to this problem is competitive services becoming available in New Zealand/Australia. Most people want to pay for stuff, but everything is disproportionately more expensive here, for less of a service.

 

There is competitive services. BigPond Movies and QuickFlix.

There is competitive services. BigPond Movies and QuickFlix.

 

I guess those services offer pretty good value. I don't know how quickly new episodes release on that website.. but I doubt it is simultaneous with American services like Netflix. Waiting a few weeks or a month when you can watch something on the day of release by torrenting episodes is a hard sell. It's good to know there are legal alternatives, though.

I guess those services offer pretty good value. I don't know how quickly new episodes release on that website.. but I doubt it is simultaneous with American services like Netflix. Waiting a few weeks or a month when you can watch something on the day of release by torrenting episodes is a hard sell. It's good to know there are legal alternatives, though.

 

You can't expect it to be like in the U.S though, even if we do get Netflix. There's so many things like content providers and licensing issues. I personally love BigPond Movies. I just pay like $5.99 and can rent a new movie in HD usually the day it comes out on Blu-ray.

People will still do it anyway.

People will still do it anyway.

 

Yep, some things can't be helped. Better awareness of good, legal alternatives is a better first step than trying to block websites or punishing pirates.

Yep, some things can't be helped. Better awareness of good, legal alternatives is a better first step than trying to block websites or punishing pirates.

 

Telstra promotes BigPond Movies heavily. And QuickFlix is on every video game console.

Telstra promotes BigPond Movies heavily. And QuickFlix is on every video game console.

 

That's cool. I haven't owned a console in ages so maybe that's why I wasn't aware of it (and I'm with Orcon, since their internet is cheaper).

*buys a VPN*

 

Suck a dick, Brandis.

That sucks, especially when a lot of games are either too expensive or don't get released in Australia.