SYDNEY: The subscription television industry has seized on the high level of copyright infringement as proof that the government needs to continue with its efforts to reduce piracy amid evidence measures taken in the United Kingdom are working.
The Australian and UK governments teamed up on a joint effort, conducting surveys between March and May to measure online copyright infringement across movies, music, TV programs and video games.
Underscoring Australia’s reputation as the world’s worst internet pirates, the survey found that 43 per cent of Australians interviewed had consumed at least one illegal file, compared to a fifth in the UK.
Of the different types of entertainment, movies topped the list with 48 per cent of survey respondents admitting they had illegally downloaded a movie. Music ranked second with 37 per cent, follows by TV programs at 33 per cent, and video games in last place with 22 per cent.
The survey coincided with the fifth series of US fantasy drama Game of Thrones, the most pirated show of 2015.
It also began in the same month that US streaming giant Netflix launched an Australian operation amid a growing crop of local joint ventures including Foxtel and Seven Network’s Presto, and Stan, a collaboration between Nine Network and Fairfax Media.
Media executives hope that over time as brand awareness spreads, consumers will switch to affordable alternatives, which offer premium dramas, local content and Hollywood movies at competitive price points in high definition across multiple devices.
“The rate of piracy in Australia is disappointingly high, far exceeding that in the United Kingdom, which makes you wonder why piracy is more acceptable in our culture,” said Andrew Maiden, chief executive of CEO of ASTRA, the peak body representing Australian subscription television.
“The report identifies price and timeliness as key factors in piracy, so we are hopeful the measures recently taken by the television industry to make content cheaper and faster will reduce theft.”
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has led a push to tighten up copyright laws, with amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 to enable the blocking of overseas websites.
Mr Turnbull has also supported a Copyright Notice Scheme Industry Code being developed by rights holders and internet service providers.
“The research clearly indicates that where governments take action to reduce levels of online copyright infringement it has an effect on peoples’ behaviour,” said Bruce Meagher, director of director of Corporate Affairs at Foxtel.
“The UK has had in place for some time site blocking legislation similar to that recently passed by the Australian Parliament. That legislation has enabled rights holders to obtain injunctions to block access to sites operated by criminals for the purpose of making money from the theft of other peoples’ intellectual property.
“This and a major consumer education campaign supported by industry and government are the two main differentiators between the Australian and UK markets. The result is that the incidence of online piracy is half in the UK what it is in Australia.”
It comes after the copyright owner and licensee behind acclaimed US movie Dallas Buyers Club won the right to obtain the details of 4,726 pirates that used Australian ISPs to illegally upload the movie. The ruling was unsuccessfully challenged by iiNet.
Pirates have been given the option to reach a settlement or face them in the Federal Court of Australia.
