Thought this might be a topic people around here would be interested in.
From Linux Australia: Quote:
Australia is required to enact harsh new "anti-circumvention" laws under the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement. Some large business interests are pressing for the government to restrict legitimate access to digital material, even though the treaty does not require us to do so.
We should be able to play DVDs and games bought overseas, even though some companies want that ability banned. We should also be able to fast-forward through forced previews on DVDs, copy CDs to iPods, or play iTunes-bought songs on other MP3 players, even though some companies want those banned too. These are legitimate activities on our own property!
This also means that we must be able to create, buy and sell devices or services to do these things, without seeking additional authorisation from the copyright holder: we need competition to supply devices which give us, the legitimate owners of music, movies and games, control over how we use them, despite any restrictions created by overzealous copyright-holders in the future.
Rusty Russell of Linux Australia gave a good QnA session on Friday on this issue. The audio is available here
It is worth checking this out, as it could mean we get slapped with some pretty strict copyright laws that will continue to prevent us (as consumers/customers) from getting what we paid for. Along with the fact that it also affects us (as members of the global software industry) in the ways we can develop software.
To be honest this is the first I have heard about it. I'm not an IP lawyer so I'm not exactly sure what you expect me 'to do about it' except bitch and moan (which I have ;) ). I can't believe you don't find it rather amazing that people dont seem at all interested in the matter though. After all, if/when it gets passed it essentially makes half the things we do on a day to day basis illegal. I just purchased 3 second hand xbox's to set up some media pc's. I'm not ready to become a criminal for this.
yeah, it may become illegal but so is downloading movies/ tv shows / music (copywrited) off the net (without paying). And that certainly doesnt occur (well, i dont do it)
Quote from Frenzy;272048: So apart from 'signing a petition' what else have you done about this?
Write to your local MP and any Senators in your state. If you feel confident, read up on the topic and schedule time to go and see them at their office.
Petitions are worth diddly squat. What matters is original letters from constituents and face time spread among the party room.