iTnews

Australia's industry piracy code still stuck on cost debate

By Allie Coyne on Jul 22, 2015 3:55PM
Australia's industry piracy code still stuck on cost debate

Forced to go to external third-party for assessment.

Australia's telecommunications sector and content owners are still stuck in a battle over who will bear the cost of the new industry copyright infringement code, almost four months after it was submitted for government approval.

In early April, the Communications Alliance handed the ACMA its draft version of a voluntary graduated warning scheme the government had mandated be put in place to combat copyright infringement .

It applies to around 70 of Australia's biggest internet service providers, or all ISPs that provide residential fixed internet services to more than 1000 account holders.

The code centres on an escalating notice scheme for fixed-line residential users who rights holders claim have infringed copyright.

However, the draft document contained no mention of the allocation of costs of the scheme - a traditionally sore point between the two parties.

It mentions only that funding arrangements must be designed to ensure smaller ISPs are not unduly burdened by the scheme's requirements.

But almost four months on from the code's submission deadline, the Communications Alliance has revealed the telco industry and rights holders are still deadlocked over who should bear the cost of the scheme.

The code will not come into effect until the debate on costs has been resolved.

The deadlock has forced telcos and rights holders to go to an external party for an independent assessment of the costs telcos and ISPs will be lumped with as a result of the scheme.

The industry has previously tentatively estimated its costs to be upwards of $30 per IP address - a figure disputed by rights holders.

"Negotiations are ongoing between the parties to finalise a commercial agreement, including cost-sharing, that will allow the code and scheme to begin operating," the Comms Alliance said in a statement today.

"Extensive negotiations over cost-sharing have not yet resulted in an agreement, so ISPs and rights holders have jointly commissioned work by an independent expert to look at the costs that ISPs will incur to process infringement notices."

The industry body argued rights holders should be required to pay the majority of the costs of operating the scheme given the "enormous financial upside that will flow to rights holders from changing the behaviour of online infringers".

Cost a long-time sore point

It's not the first time movement on an industry copyright infringement code has stalled as a result of debate on costs.

More than a year of talks failed in 2012 after telcos and rights holders were unable to come to agreement on the issue.

ISPs refused to pay for a process they said rights holders would financially benefit from, while content owners argued each side should bear its own costs.

It was this inability to reach consensus that late last year prompted the government to issue a warning to both parties: develop a scheme or have one mandated for you. They were then given just four months to pull a draft code together.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © iTnews.com.au . All rights reserved.
Tags:
code copyright infringement piracy piracy code strategy

Partner Content

What is zero trust cybersecurity?
Partner Content What is zero trust cybersecurity?
COVID puts agile IT under the microscope
Promoted Content COVID puts agile IT under the microscope
Improving returns from SD-WAN spending
Partner Content Improving returns from SD-WAN spending
Shut the door on ransomware
Promoted Content Shut the door on ransomware

Sponsored Whitepapers

The top 5 tech trends to deliver business outcomes
The top 5 tech trends to deliver business outcomes
10 reasons why businesses need to invest in cloud security training
10 reasons why businesses need to invest in cloud security training
Your guide to application security solutions
Your guide to application security solutions
State of Software Security: Open Source Edition
State of Software Security: Open Source Edition
Five questions to ask before you upgrade to a SIEM solution
Five questions to ask before you upgrade to a SIEM solution

Events

  • On-Demand Webinar: How Poly and Microsoft are Embracing Future Work Environments
  • [iTnews and Micro Focus] Navigating the cloud modernisation minefield
By Allie Coyne
Jul 22 2015
3:55PM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • NAB trains its execs to talk tech
  • NSW govt makes its first regulation machine-readable
  • ACCC accuses Google of seeding media code 'misinformation'
  • Google weaponises search platform in fight against proposed media code
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

TPG Telecom to start enticing NBN customers to move

TPG Telecom to start enticing NBN customers to move

Infosys scores another $40m for Centrelink payments engine build

Infosys scores another $40m for Centrelink payments engine build

Telstra InfraCo opens up telco's own fibre network

Telstra InfraCo opens up telco's own fibre network

Transport for NSW data stolen in Accellion breach

Transport for NSW data stolen in Accellion breach

You must be a registered member of iTnews to post a comment.
Log In | Register
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.