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Abbott’s new law to block illegal downloads

Australians will be blocked from downloading popular TV series like Game Of Thrones for free under new draft laws before parliament.

The legislation introduced to parliament on Thursday will allow rights-holders to seek a court injunction forcing internet service providers to block access to piracy websites hosted overseas.

Foreign sites that allow illegal downloads of TV shows, movies or music will be shut off to Australians.

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Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the laws are a “powerful mechanism” that empower rights-holders to protect their creative content.

Just because people had become accustomed to expecting free content and generally indifferent to copyright, it didn’t make it right.

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The days of free Game of Thrones episodes could soon be over.

“The flagrant disregard of the rights of copyright owners is wrong – both legally and morally,” Mr Turnbull told parliament.

“It’s a form of theft.”

The minister promised a number of safeguards that would balance the interests of individuals with those of creative industries.

The Federal Court must consider a number of factors before issuing the injunction – whether it’s in the public interest to block access, the flagrancy of piracy and if the site holds more non-pirated content than otherwise.

Consumer groups have welcomed the safeguards but want assurances they won’t prevent access to legal content.

However, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network said the piracy issue was a problem of a lack of access to affordable content.

Australia has one of the highest rates of online piracy in the world.

The season-four finale of Game of Thrones was illegally downloaded by locals a record 1.5 million times within 12 hours of the show being aired in the US.

Industry welcomes draft law

Foxtel’s corporate affairs spokesman Bruce Meagher said the bill was not specific to TV and it was in the best interests of the music and movie industry as well.

“This will benefit free-to-air broadcasters, movies and the music industry,” Mr Meagher told AAP.

He said blocking piracy has had a positive effect on the entertainment industry in Europe and the new laws, if passed, should have a similar effect in the Australia as well.

Not only is Mr Meagher hoping the flow-on effect is a stronger uptake of Foxtel and its new streaming service Presto, but also for the new players in the online market Netflix and Stan.

“Hopefully consumers will look for legitimate alternatives,” Mr Meagher said.

“Our general view is the more people get used to the idea that there are affordable and easy ways to pay for TV and services, the better it is for everyone.

“We encourage people to take up any of those services, but obviously Presto.”

Network Ten has some of the more popular US dramas on Australian TV but they have suffered a hit in the overnight ratings of late.

A Ten spokesman says piracy has severely undermined their business.

“We welcome the additional enforcement mechanisms that this bill provides,” a Ten spokesman said.

“Online piracy severely undermines the business model for quality television content so any measures that help to reduce piracy rates are welcome.”

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