Yesterday, it was announced that Australian Internet Service Providers cannot be held responsible for infringement of copyright by their users. A very landmark decision about how the MPAA and related organizations have been recently attacking ISPs since suing users is apparently a bad business model, go figure? The case was initially against iiNet, an Aussie ISP that was “doing nothing to stop bittorrent copyright infringement on its network” according to various moving studios including, but not limited to, Time Warner, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and Disney.
iiNet, like any reasonable internet provider, claimed that they were simply the equivalent of the postal service carrying data from one point to another. Because of the providers’s intelligent and technically sound case they managed to hold up in court where Australian Justice Dennis Cowdroy ruled in their favor, probably leaving the movie industry quite upset. In a response from AFACT (Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft), the lobbyist organization who originated the suit, they stated that: “Today’s decision is a set back for the 50,000 Australians employed in the film industry”. This of course actually means: ‘this is a setback for the executives who would just cut the losses out of the underling’s pay’ since there still resides to scientific or economical proof that one download equals a stolen product.
Australians are probably quite excited today, the Australian party commended the justice and welcomed the decision with open arms. Now all they need to do is run some powerful fibers to their country and they are set!
“have been recently attacking ISPs since suing users is apparently a bad business model, go figure? ”
Go figure what? That you don’t know what you are talking about?
They haven’t been suing Australian users. The court just ruled that they can’t sue the ISPs instead of the users. Who do you think that leaves getting sued, genius?
In the American context, which is what I am writing from, the movie industries have already tried both. I am hoping that in your country that they will not pursue failed action, but judging by your response to me anything goes.