The Abbott Government’s new measures to combat copyright infringement has been met with criticism from consumer advocates and some quarters of the ICT industry.
Attorney General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday told industry leaders they must develop an industry code to protect copyright before April.
The code would include a process to notify consumers when a copyright breach has occurred and involves a 120 day binding arrangement for ISPs that fail to comply with the code.
ISPs and content distributors have cautiously welcomed the proposed regulations but consumer rights advocate Choice said the changes will have "no real impact on piracy".
"If we want to address piracy we need to address the real drivers which are affordability and availability of content," said Choice CEO Alan Kirkland.
"When consumers see the internet bills go up they’re going to be angry. If consumers get notified that they’ve engaged in piracy when they haven’t, which will happen under this scheme, they’ll be even angrier. A lot of anger will directed at ISPs when in fact this is not the ISP’s problem," he said.
The SBS has sought comment from Attorney General George Brandis.
Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA), a non-profit organisation concerned with digital freedom and privacy, criticised the changes as problematic and "very concerning."
EFA Executive Officer Jon Lawrence says the development of a suitable industry code by ISPs and rights groups is not feasible when considering the cost-effectiveness of such changes for those involved.
"At the end of the day, the reality is that this is a market issue. Australian consumers are well aware that they are being ripped off. As soon as content holders provide consumers with timely, reasonably priced access to content they’ll be able to make more money," he said.
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