Postscript: the MPAA is not impressed.

Post #48,914 by static 8/10/02 3:55:39 AM Reply	Postscript: the MPAA is not impressed. Also from Radio National, but this time from [link\|http://www.abc.net.au/pm/\|PM]: [link\|http://www.abc.net.au/pm/s645007.htm\|Dawson Inquiry is the talk of Hollywood]. There isn't a transcript available, bit there's a WMP (ick) audio stream. Precis (I heard it broadcast yesterday): the MPAA is concerned that Australian Courts seem to be taking a view of technological copyright protection that is contrary to other major jurisdictions around the world. But the fact of the matter is that Alan Fels and the [link\|http://www.accc.gov.au/\|ACCC] simply will not be bought by commercial interests and deeply respect their duty to the Australian Consumer. Wade. "Ah. One of the difficult questions."
Post #49,042 by ben_tilly 8/12/02 6:42:54 AM Reply	Old tactic for multinationals Multinationals have several tactics for getting laws passed that play off of having multiple countries to ask for favours from. One of them is to get a friendly jurisdiction to pass laws that give them what they want, and then try to get it passed elsewhere for reasons of "harmonization". This is how the Sony-Bono act was passed in the US, and what they are trying to do with the DMCA elsewhere. Often what they try to get passed elsewhere will be even more generous than the original. (The Sony-Bono act would be an excellent example.) This is the international version of a kid going to one parent and saying what the other parent "said" the kid can do. A related trick is to try to get a treaty passed between countries with terms they would have trouble getting passed in either country, and to only pursue specific laws once they have that. Overuse of this tactic is why a lot of people dislike the WTO. I am sure that there are plenty of other variations... Cheers, Ben Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. -- Edsger Wybe Dijkstra (1930-2002)
Post #49,043 by static 8/12/02 7:11:59 AM Reply	It will be interesting to see them try. In this particular case, the law they would have to somehow get changed is the Trade Practices Act. Belying it's rather ordinary name, it is a quite well-respected and actually rather powerful law, IIRC. I think its core dates from 1936 and it has a rich history. OTOH, I try to have as few illusions as possible about how much power big multinationals can wield over governments. Wade. "Ah. One of the difficult questions."

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