[clug] New copyright law?

[Kim Holburn]

On 2006/Nov/20, at 3:09 PM, Michael James wrote:

> On Monday 20 November 2006 12:47 pm, Ian McCulloch wrote:
>> Currently on Slashdot:
>>
>> Draconian Anti-Piracy Law Looms Over Australia
>
> Risking fines of who-knows-how-much,
>  here is what Crikey had to say on the 8th Nov.
>
> We’re all copyright criminals now
>
> Date: Wednesday, 8 November 2006
> Intellectual property academic Kim Weatherall writes:
>
> Imagine this: girl having great time at live concert uses fabulous  
> slimline
> phone with mp3 recorder and camera to capture the moment. She sends  
> it to
> her home computer, and later plays it for the office Christmas party.
>
> According to the Australian government she is a criminal. Under  
> laws now
> being debated in the Senate and due to pass in coming weeks, she is:
>
>     * Making a direct recording of a performance without the  
> permission of
> the performer(s): criminal offence, $6,600 fine;
>     * Possessing equipment to copy an unauthorised recording: criminal
> offence, $6,600 fine;
>     * Making a copy of an unauthorised recording: criminal offence,  
> $6,600
> fine;
>     * Paying an unauthorised recording publicly: criminal offence,  
> $6,600
> fine.
>       Total fines: $26,400.

It's interesting.  If a paparazzi takes a picture of you in the  
street or a news camerman takes a video of you in the street can you  
sue?  What is  "performance" anyway?  Does that include buskers?  If  
you suddenly start busking does that count?  Does hiring a hall mean  
that you are making a "performance"?

--
Kim Holburn
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