[LINK] Australian Gov't Chooses 'Consumer Advocate' For Secret Anti-Piracy Meetings: The Chairman Of The Copyright Council

[Paul Brooks]

On 9/06/2012 11:38 AM, Kim Holburn wrote:
> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120605/18331419214/australian-govt-chooses-consumer-advocate-secret-anti-piracy-meetings-chairman-copyright-council.shtml
>
>> Australian Gov't Chooses 'Consumer Advocate' For Secret Anti-Piracy Meetings: The Chairman Of The Copyright Council
>>
>> from the um... dept
>>
>> You may recall, that the Australian government, the big entertainment industry players and some ISPs have been meeting down in Australia to come up with a plan to "fight piracy." Of course, the meetings have been so secret that the government won't even reveal who attended them, claiming that it would not be in the public interest. Considering that copyright law itself is supposed to be about the public interest, that seems preposterous, but despite the criticism, the government vowed to continue hosting these secret meetings. However, in a nod to the criticism, they apparently added a "consumer advocate." Just one problem: it turns out that the head of the consumer advocacy group invited to the meeting, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, just so happens to also be the chairperson of the Australian Copyright Council, a group which has advocated for stronger copyright laws for decades.

and then http://www.zdnet.com.au/accans-fraser-steps-out-of-piracy-talks-339339247.htm

After this criticism several days ago, Prof Fraser did indeed step away from the
talks, and ACCAN was represented by Teresa Corbin and Jonathan Gadir instead.

A couple of representatives of ISOC-AU were also at the meetings, representing
consumers interests and a gateway to the global viewpoint.

Paul.
(Board member of ISOC-AU, if disclosure is required).