Australian ISPs Reject Calls To Police Their Users

jon_cooper writes "After recent setbacks in the RIAA's lawsuits, the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has decided to try a different approach in Australia - they want ISPs to do their dirty work for them. Australian ISPs, though, have soundly rejected calls from AFACT to slow down or terminate user accounts that AFACT has determined are being used to distribute copyrighted works. Telstra (one of the larger ISPs in question) had this to say: 'We do not believe it is up to the ISPs to be judge, jury and executioner in relation to the issue when the content owners have any number of legal avenues to pursue infringements.'"

Re:Give it 1 year.

[Anonymous Coward]

They took the A that would normally stand for America and put it at the front, and made it stand for Austral... oh... I see what you did there.

600lb Koala (aka Gorilla, aussie style)

[Anonymous Coward]

yea, good luck with that one ARIA/AFACT. Telstra employ one of the largest legal teams in Australia and regularly, and very sucessfully i might add, defend itself against a litegious government department (ACCC) many times a year for the last 5 years since privatisation. I think their meeting would go like this..

1) AFACT: "Stop your users from downloading our content now!"
2) Telstra: "Umm.. No. What else ya got?"
3) ?
4) Telstra: Profit!

But hey, don't take my word for it, ARIA, AFACT, what ever you are called. Please, try it out a couple of times. It's not like you would be around for much longer after Telstra are finished with you.
(I can see their web site now. A big Telstra logo at the top/middle of the page and in large lettering, p0wned

Re:Hmm...

[soulsteal]

The dubbing wasn't the delay. Rewriting the script so that all the guys are named Bruce? That takes FOREVER!

Re:Same ISPs as in the U.S.?

[maglor_83]

Thats OK. They operate in Australia, New Zealand AND Tasmania.

Re:Huzzah!

[ThePengwin]

Yes and we are all a bunch of dirty thieves!
While your typed that I stole your wallet.
Now watch as i escape on my kangaroo!

</sarcasm>

Re:Of course they won't

[Doogzee]

I don't see what iTunes has to do with scientific and medical research.