If you though that the zero tolerance campaign for schools in USA had been rushed through and has been responsible for a host of hasty decisions then wait till you read this one. The Australian government in its zeal to stamp put piracy has gone overboard. As a student who lives in Australia and loves it, this is one law that makes me wonder where the country is headed.
IIA chief executive, Peter Coroneos was quoted giving this superb example to illustrate the new laws “a family who holds a birthday picnic in a place of public entertainment (for example, the grounds of a zoo) and sings ‘Happy Birthday’ in a manner that can be heard by others, risks an infringement notice carrying a fine of up to $1320. If they make a video recording of the event, they risk a further fine for the possession of a device for the purpose of making an infringing copy of a song. And if they go home and upload the clip to the internet where it can be accessed by others, they risk a further fine of up to AUD$1320 for illegal distribution. All in all, possible fines of up to AUD$3960 for this series of acts – and the new offences do not require knowledge or improper intent. Just the doing of the acts is enough to ground a legal liability under the new ‘strict liability’ offences.”
Get more details from Gizmag about the whole episode