[LINK] On-the-spot copyright fines only for illegal traders?

[Roger Clarke]

Ruddock's Letter to the Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday 16 November 2006
http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2006/11/15/1163266633263.html

You reported that "copyright offences will now attract criminal 
penalties" because of the Government's proposed copyright amendments 
("Soon your recordings will be a crime", November 14).

This is misleading. Copyright offences already attract criminal 
penalties. The Government is introducing a new penalty of 
"on-the-spot fines" for existing offences, instead of court fines or 
jail terms, to provide practical enforcement options. The fines are 
aimed at market-stall operators selling pirated copyright material, 
not to "trick" consumers.

Philip Ruddock Attorney-General, Canberra

-- 
Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
			            
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Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW