[Ecommerce] Re: Australians Pushed to Adopt New Copyright Law

[sarah.b.deutsch@verizon.com]

Even though the Australians already passed a perfectly adequate package
implementing the WIPO copyright treaties and DMCA protection for service
providers, the US copyright industry convinced USTR to force Australia
(using the FTAA as a lever) to amend their copyright law yet again but this
time forcing through a version that is much worse  than our own DMCA.   The
bill is before the Australian Senate on a fast track as we speak and it may
be too late for the ISPs to stop it.


FTA doubts after ISP protest (James Riley, December 06, 2004)
THE passage of the US Free Trade Agreement enabling legislation has been
thrown into doubt after the government agreed to an 11th hour review of
key concerns outlined by the Internet Industry Association (IIA).


The full story is available at:
http://www.australianit.com.au/articles/0,7204,11603523%5E15306%5E%5Enbv
%5E,00.html


Sarah B. Deutsch
Vice President & Associate General Counsel
Verizon Communications
Phone: 703-351-3044
Fax:      703-351-3670
sarah.b.deutsch@verizon.com