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AFACT seeks automated copyright violation processing system

July 29, 2011

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has written to at least one ISP requesting a meeting to discuss implementing an “automated processing system” for copyright infringement notices to be distributed to customers.

It currently engaged in a high-profile legal battle with ISP iiNet over BitTorrent, which is expected to reach the High Court this year.

It is believed that AFACT considers early judgements in the case to have opened the door for it legally to approach Australian ISPs about online copyright infringement, provided it supplied the right level of detail about the alleged offences. In the past few months, a number of ISPs have confirmed the organisation has approached them about the matter.

In one letter to Exetel, AFACT requested a meeting with the ISP. “AFACT is fully aware that Exetel has a Copyright Policy in place and AFACT would welcome the opportunity to meet with Exetel to discuss how AFACT and Exetel can work together to enhance the efficacy of Exetel’s graduated response process,” the letter from AFACT executive director Neil Gane stated. “For example, we could discuss the implementation of a standardised automated processing system that could integrate with your current network.”

Gane said that in line with its commitment to protect member companies’ content, AFACT was investigating infringements of copyright in movies and television shows in Australia by customers of Exetel taking place on Exetel’s networks through the use of the BitTorrent ‘peer-to-peer’ protocol.

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Policy, Regulation