User rights suffer in copyright jungle

The High Court has sensibly ruled that the Copyright Act cannot be exploited by suppliers of computer games and other software to carve up the world market and charge what each region will bear.

But Sony, which has finally lost its case against a supplier of PlayStation consoles modified to play imported games, and the rest of the industry need not fear.

The Howard government is likely to ride to the rescue and further amend section 116A of the Copyright Act, which goes beyond protection of legitimate copyright to preserve traditional marketing fiefdoms from global competition, if past changes have not done the trick.

Indeed, the government is obliged to do so under the free-trade agreement with the United States: it requires Australia to replicate the more objectionable aspects of US law to pander to global entertainment giants, but not the pro-consumer bits.

(from AFR Editorial)
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