Australia set to block content piracy websites
November 17, 2014
By Colin Mann
Australia media sources suggest that Attorney-General George Brandis and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull intend to present to Cabinet before Christmas formal proposals following the July publication of their Online Copyright Infringement Discussion Paper which sought public submissions on draft proposals designed to address online piracy.
It is understood they will recommend that government require ISPs to forward letters alleging copyright infringement from rights holders to their customers, as well as recommending that rights holders will be able to seek an injunction requiring ISPs block websites hosting infringing content. However, a requirement that ISPs slow the download speeds of customers who repeatedly breach copyright is unlikely to feature, along with the actual disconnection of customers breaching copyright.
Brandis admitted to Fairfax Media that work on online copyright infringement was fairly well advanced but was unwilling to comment on what happened in Cabinet, let alone what was being brought to Cabinet.