17 February 2012: The 2012 Round of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) Grants Scheme has opened. The ACCAN Grants Scheme has $250,000 in funding available for consumer-focused telecommunications research and consumer education or advocacy tools. Full story here. Read more »
Contact Matthew Nicholls (ph: +61 3 8376 7131) to discuss your requirements.
Is Streaming a Broadcast? Federal Court hands down decision in Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd v Commercial Radio Australia Limited
17 February 2012: The Federal Court has handed down another decision which grapples with broadcasting in the Digital Age, in particular the question ‘is streaming a broadcast?’. Justice Foster dismissed PPCA’s claim for the payment of additional royalties for the streaming of PPCA sound recordings as part of radio programs. His Honour said: “the simulcast […] Read more »
ACCC declares wholesale ADSL, commences related processes
14 February 2012: The ACCC has declared the wholesale ADSL service under section 152AL of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The ACCC considers that this will promote the long-term interests of end-users of fixed-line broadband internet services throughout Australia. Declaration will remove impediments to competitive internet service providers gaining access to Telstra’s national ADSL […] Read more »
Google readying cloud-based storage service
10 February 2012: Google is getting ready to take on Dropbox with its own cloud-based storage service. The service — called Drive — is in response to the growing use of mobile devices to access personal files stored on the internet, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Drive will allow users to upload photos, […] Read more »
UTS Dean of Law appointed head of ALRC review into copyright in the digital environment
8 February 2012: Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has announced the appointment of Professor Jill McKeough (Dean of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney) to lead an ALRC review into copyright in the digital environment. The review will focus particularly on the suitability of current exceptions in copyright legislation. Full story here. Read more »
Satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to the regions
8 February 2012: The Federal Government has announced a $620 million agreement to design and build two satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to rural and remote areas. The two satellites will deliver, along with the fixed wireless and fibre networks of the National Broadband Network (NBN), universal broadband coverage across the entire Australian continent, and […] Read more »
Federal Court makes ruling on copyright in computer programs
3 February 2012: Justice Bennett of the Federal Court of Australia has handed down her ruling in CA Inc v Independent Systems Integrators Pty Ltd regarding copyright in computer programs. CA is an international IT software management company, whose products include software to manage large databases on mainframe computers. CA claimed that ISI Pty Ltd […] Read more »
Motorola sues Apple over iPhone, iCloud
26 January 2012 : A new Motorola lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, claims Apple is infringing on six of the company’s patents with two of its latest product offerings: the iPhone 4S and iCloud. In the suit — Motorola’s second against Apple in this particular court — […] Read more »
Open access wholesale service on Telstra fibre networks
23 January 2012: Senator Stephen Conroy has announced that Telstra would provide an open access wholesale service on fibre networks it is currently deploying in South Brisbane and some new real estate projects. Telstra will provide a wholesale broadband service, called the Fibre Access Broadband Service, to access seekers on request, on an open and […] Read more »
Keeping Secrets in Times of Weak Law
12 December 2011: An outline of the 2011 CMCL conference ‘Keeping Secrets in Times of Weak Law’ with a run-down of the panels on Cybersecurity, Trade and Commercial Secrecy, and Privacy from the Fortnightly Review of IP and Media Law. Full story here. Read more »
Applications for NBN-Enabled Education and Skills Services program
1 December 2011: Innovative online and interactive education and training packages will be developed for a nationwide rollout to schools and vocational training providers under the $27.2 million NBN-Enabled Education and Skills Services program. The Government today called for proposals for the project, with organisations encouraged to develop ideas or trial projects that can be […] Read more »
Francis Gurry on Copyright reform
29 November 2011: Francis Gurry, the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, addressed the recent Copyright Law and Practice Symposium on copyright reform at the global level. Full text of speech here. Read more »
Broadband network provides in-home healthcare
29 November 2011: The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, have announced an $8 million trial which will enable chronically ill veterans access in-home healthcare, to have their health monitored by health professionals without leaving their home. Full story here. Read more »
New facilities demonstrate the NBN’s potential
25 November 2011: The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has launched new NBN operation and demonstration facilities in Melbourne, intended to show the NBN’s potential. The new NBN Discovery Centre and the NBN Co Truck will provide an opportunity for consumers to learn about the NBN. The National Operations […] Read more »