Broadband News

Fri, 06th Aug 2010

iiTrial: Appeal ends with studios seeking cooperation on piracy

An anti-piracy regime would cost both the film industry and ISPs money to implement, but compliance on the part of ISPs was not without benefit, representatives of Hollywood studios told the Federal Court yesterday.

Source: iTnews Australia

Liberals to slash net filter

The Federal Opposition has moved to trash the Government's highly controversial mandatory ISP-level Internet Filter.

Source: Computerworld

Thu, 05th Aug 2010

NBN to underpin economic growth: Albanese

Investment in the National Broadband Network was the "clear point of distinction" between the Gillard Government and the opposition, and was the investment that would underpin nation building projects from energy to transport to the environment, Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese says.

Source: iTWire

Coalition won't support internet filter: report

The Liberal-National Coalition will scrap Labor's mandatory internet filter proposal should it gain power in this month's election, according to reports.

Source: iTnews Australia

Will AFACT's appeal solve anything?

Should the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) appeal against the iiNet copyright case verdict be happening at all?

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiTrial: iiNet moves to strengthen first judgement with Telco Act

Barristers for ISP iiNet and Hollwood film studios clashed today in the Federal Court on whether the Telecommunications Act could be relied on by ISPs as a reason not to action infringement notices issued by rights holders.

Source: iTnews Australia

AFACT v iiNet: Innocent account holders held responsible

Legal counsel for the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has argued that the account holder should be held accountable for alleged copyright infringement, even if they weren't the one to actually download infringing material.

Source: Computerworld

AFACT v iiNet: 'Reasonable belief' defence may be incorrect

It has been revealed that iiNet's defence of 'reasonable belief' against acting on evidence of copyright infringement was potentially based on a misinterpretation of relevant legislation.

Source: Computerworld

iiNet: Telco Act was not used as convenient excuse

iiNet has argued the Telecommunications Act 1997 was not used as a convenient defence against the copyright case brought on by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT).

Source: ARN

iiNet's naked DSL left this man exposed

Gary Mallin is no technophile. He would be the first to admit that he was attracted to the idea of moving to naked DSL because of the savings of more than $400 which would accrue due to not needing a landline any more.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 04th Aug 2010

AFACT: Time to change business model?

The long-running copyright case between ISP iiNet and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) looks to have come full circle, with one Federal Court judge musing out loud that there is a commercial solution to the issue, regardless of what is decided by the bench.

Source: iTWire

Why not do the NBN better, cheaper, faster?

When you are faced with an opponent that has a great game, sometimes the best offence is to just do what they are doing, but better.

Source: Computerworld

AFACT didn't explain notices to iiNet

On the morning of the third day of the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) appeal against the iiNet copyright case verdict, iiNet barrister Richard Cobden said that the federation had passed infringing customer data to iiNet without explaining it.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Will the Coalition preside over the No Broadband Network?

It's crunch time for the Australian Liberal Party and its coalition partner, The Nationals, as Australians are faced with an awful Federal election choice: the socialist Labor party with its plan to spend $43b building a national broadband network at 100Mbps speeds, only to cruel it with a freedom-killing filter, or the freedom-loving, capitalist Liberal Party which still hasn't stated what its NBN policy is, or whether it truly is 100% opposed to a filter.

Source: iTWire

iiNet: AFACT did not ask for gradual steps against pirates

iiNet has attempted to rebuke claims by the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) in the Full Federal Court that the ISP could have - and should have - taken gradual steps against copyright infringements by its customers.

Source: ARN

Optus revamps mobile broadband plans

Optus has announced a new range of mobile broadband plans starting at $A20 that differentiate between peak and off-peak usage.

Source: iTWire

iiTrial: Concerns iiNet could be re-sued even it it wins appeal

One of three judges presiding over the appeal between the film studios and ISP iiNet over alleged copyright infringement on ISP networks has questioned whether a decision by the full bench of the Federal Court will actually solve anything in the war between the two sides.

Source: iTnews Australia

iiNet v AFACT judge: What’s the point of this case?

One of the Full Federal Court judges overseeing the copyright case between iiNet and the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) has questioned the point of the proceedings.

Source: ARN

Tue, 03rd Aug 2010

ISPs throw cold water on Conroy's 'uncapped' NBN

ISPs rejected a prediction by the Federal Communications Minister that capped data plans will disappear once the $43 billion National Broadband Network is built.

Source: iTnews Australia

Poll: Should ISPs be held accountable for customers who infringe copyright?

The ongoing legal battle between iiNet and the Australia Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) is back in the Federal court this week.AFACT launched an appeal back in February after the judge overseeing the much-publicised copyright case, Justice Cowdroy, dismissed the case, following a five-month investigation that uncovered instances of copyright infringements by users of iiNet's services. The case raises the question of whether ISPs should be held accountable for the actions of its users?

Source: Computerworld

iiTrial: Studio case "way out there", says iiNet

The relative importance of a copyright case between the film studios and ISP iiNet has again been played out in the Federal Court, with the ISP's lead barrister describing the film industry's case as "adventurous" and "way out there".

Source: iTnews Australia

iiTrial: Studios call for graduated response against infringers

The film industry has again put the disabling of BitTorrent in the too-hard basket, preferring instead that ISPs start "graduated responses" against users accused of sharing copyrighted materials.

Source: iTnews Australia

We lose NBN, you lose our vote poll tells Abbott

The Liberal-National Coalition could well lose a significant proportion of the all-important swinging voters unless it modifies its plans to scrap the NBN. That appears to be the message of new poll which may be the kick in the backside that the Federal Opposition needs to perform a necessary policy backflip.

Source: iTWire

iiNet spam policy perfect for copyright

On day two of the appeal against the verdict in the landmark iiNet copyright trial, Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) barrister David Catterns said iiNet's "sophisticated" policy procedure for dealing with customers with malware and spam should apply to copyright breaches.

Source: ZDNet Australia

iiNet had power to stop downloads

Film studio lawyers say ISP iiNet had the technical ability and power to prevent customers from abusing its network for film piracy but failed to act.

Source: Australian IT

iiNet defends 'win' verdict against AFACT

iiNet's legal representative has taken the stage to strengthen the company's 'win' verdict against the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT).

Source: ARN

iiNet joins broadband big league

iiNet's $60 million acquisition of AAPT's consumer arm will cement its role as a major player in the National Broadband Network world.

Source: Australian IT

Mon, 02nd Aug 2010

iiNet to trial Broadcom's DSL boosting technology

iiiNet is planning trials of technology from chip-maker Broadcom that it hopes will significantly improve the performance of its recently launched IPTV service, provided by Fetch TV.

Source: iTWire

Family First looks to NBN for free online uni

The Family First Party has called for the Labor Party’s proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) to be used in setting up free online university courses.

Source: Computerworld

Optus HFC upgrade done, reaches 75Mbps

Optus has completed a substantial upgrade of its hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) cable network in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney that will allow residents in supported areas access to speeds ranging up to around 80Mbps or more, using the improved DOCSIS 3 standard.

Source: ZDNet Australia