The Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, introduced into the Australian Parliament by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has been given Royal Assent and passed into law. The legislation provides for a copyright owner to apply to the Federal Court of Australia for an order requiring a carriage service provider (e.g. an ISP) to block access to an overseas website that has a primary purpose of infringing or facilitating the infringement of copyright.
APRA AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle AM noted:
“It will give to creative industries a means to fight back, it will assist in changing the behaviour of Australian consumers and, most importantly, it will send a powerful, practical and symbolic message to the artists and creators of Australia.
“Australia's creative industries have been waiting for a very long time for Parliament to provide an expression of support and respect for their work and their place in the life of the nation."
