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Australia Steps Closer To 3-Strikes for Pirates

Last month we reported on a threat made by AFACT to Australian ISP’s – talk to us on a ‘graduated response’, OR ELSE. Since no-one apparently took the offer up, the ‘or else’ has appeared, in the form of the Australian Attorney General.

The Australian has confirmed that Attorney-General Robert McClelland will be holding a meeting with copyright advocacy groups next month and has invited some ISPs to take part. The meeting will reportedly be to negotiate more copyright ‘protection’ laws.

A letter, obtained by The Australian, has stated that the meeting will allow stakeholder (read: Copyright Industry) views to be pitched to the government, as ‘advice’. While ISP’s have been invited, no invitations have apparently been sent to groups looking out for the public interest.

Telstra has already confirmed it’s attending, as will AFACT. Time will tell if the meeting, scheduled for September, will end up with the same whitewash as has characterised the introduction of such laws in other countries.

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  • Guest

    3-Strikes is so stupid and will fail. Internet is a basic right and entertainment industry is not more important.

    • http://twitter.com/icanhazsake Ninja

      Failed in France (even though they don’t admit it) why would it work elsewhere?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002755963419 Charlie Sassine

    I’m gonna cry if we cant download

  • 3digger

    Fug- -em!! Bring on the Revolution,who will miss out…..the ISP’s.

  • Katanyavich

    Gutless A-G, and a corrupt, useless Govt. Aus has gone to Hell in a hand-cart. We SHOULD be the country to stand up and tell big-content to get rooted. but we have a GUTLESS, useless pack of clowns as leaders.

    • http://twitter.com/icanhazsake Ninja

      If I know the Australian enough they’ll ignore the useless law and move on ;)

      • Moxie

        I’ve said this already, I’ll say it again; people here have grown too complacent. The “fair go” thing we’re supposedly known for? Where is it? Seems like John Coward’s reign of terror was too much for too many people to bear and they just gave up on doing anything.

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  • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

    OK you guys in OZ need to write to this guy NOW please. Here’s how -

    The Attorney-General can be contacted at either of the offices listed below:

    The Hon. Mr. Robert McClelland, MP
    Parliament House Office
    Parliament House
    Canberra ACT 2600

    Tel: (02) 6277 7300
    Fax: (02) 6273 4102

    Email: attorney@ag.gov.au

    Details “stolen” ( so I guess that’s me got one strike already) from
    http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/mcclelland.nsf/Page/Contacts

    I’ll be firing summat off myself (as I did previously with the NZ minister) once I decide how to attack this beastie – but I’m in Scotland, so I dunno what techniques or argument may work best with your guys, ye ken?

    • Katanyavich

      A couple of ‘Tallboys’ dropped on Canberra, maybe?

      They don’t seem to be able to hear anything WE say.

      • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

        Well I hear you Kat, and we can’t be much further away so there’s no need to raise your voice any louder lol.

        Simply put your case to AG Rab Mac saying summat along the lines of -

        Dear Madam,

        Although I’m deeply troubled by your possible decision to allow Australia to capitulate to the trade demands and threats made by the USA, I retain some hope that you see the future is for openness and cooperation in all markets, and that includes the current market adversely affected and distorted by copyright law.

        I urge you to please resist the demands of an industry that’s failed to adapt to improvements in technology that improve society and humanity Worldwide.

        Thanking you in anticipation of your next period,

        Sincerely yours,

        Katanyavich

        @ Kat
        you may wish to amend a few words thoug, but that’s ^ my knee-jerk reaction to this dummy. Best of luck you guys.

        • I’ll_get_me_coat

          “Thanking you in anticipation of your next period”

          I’d make that ‘term’ rather than ‘period’, as the AG is male.

        • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

          But I deliberately started with “Dear madam”, so it simply made sense (in my warped little World) to continue with that ‘error’.

          Seriously though, I wasn’t writing a template to be used – it really was just an initial, off-the-top-of-my-head thought that likely needs refining and tweaked using your own words somewhere.

          I genuinely apologise for any misunderstanding my friends.

        • http://twitter.com/icanhazsake Ninja

          “Thanking you in anticipation of your next period” along with “Dear madam” gave a whole new lulz to the expression “Premenstrual Syndrome”. The fact that it’s a guy ads the adjective expression “breath taking” before “lulz”. And I rofl’d.

        • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

          teehee, but is the main body actually of any use, does it make sense? It was just a brain-fart Ninja.

        • http://twitter.com/icanhazsake Ninja

          Yes, it does make sense. But the lulz I managed to see there is simply priceless ;)

        • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

          Heh thanks, but I’ve now re-read it and disagree with you and myself!!! I can be a subtle wee sanitary pad when need be, but the original draft doesn’t actually say anything about what the letter is about (which is as subtle as using no such pad in times of need).

          So I suggest a reference to the internet, the so-called “content industry” and the USA’s Office of the Trade Representative be included in there somewhere too – just for the avoidance of doubt or confusion.

          As Cap’n Picard would say, “make it so!”

        • http://twitter.com/icanhazsake Ninja

          But sir, you mention copyright in your letter so it would be obvious to any sane and wise person. Are you by any chance suggesting that lawyers and politicians have neither of the mentioned qualities?

        • http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes

          YES I would so suggest Ninja.
          (btw if you dare to call me “sir” ever again I’ll make you wear a cloth cap simply so I can see you doth it to me – just as any other “sir” deserves to have sex with your virgin wife before you).

  • Fagman

    Poops

  • http://twitter.com/icanhazsake Ninja

    I’m not surprised but has any1 noticed that the Aunstralian ppl are completely excluded from the thing? No representative of any community at all. No invitation to specialists from other areas (EFF?).

    Whenever it’s something that NOBODY wants passed into law because it’s WIDELY accepted ppl get excluded. Interesting huh?

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  • Nigbot

    Maybe I wouldn’t download if American tv shows were actually SHOWN here. Just because people in the us can watch it on tv for free why do I have to pay for in iTunes?
    Lets exclude our own potential audience by making them pay for what they shouldn’t have to.
    Lame.

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  • Guest

    Another chance for the Australian gov’t to grab at some money, that’s all this is.

    I remember when Australia had balls, i feel sorry for the younger generation.

    • Moxie

      Blame Howard’s rule, 96-07. The damage was done there, and it’s going to take a hell of a lot to reverse it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sharada-Prasad-Mohanty/100002189755656 Sharada Prasad Mohanty

    I am going to cry if we can not download.
    http://funnyandspicy.com/

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sharada-Prasad-Mohanty/100002189755656 Sharada Prasad Mohanty

    I am going to cry if we can not download.
    http://funnyandspicy.com/

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  • Anonymous

    tinyurl.com/2df4ccp

  • BTGuard - BitTorrent Anonymously

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