Australian campaign for consumer control of music

You paid good money for your CDs, and you expect to be able to play them anywhere, or transfer them to your iPod – or whatever cool gadget comes out next year. However, if the American music companies get their way, such transfers will be illegal. That’s right: you won’t be able to play your CDs on your music player!

What’s going on here?

The Australia-US Free Trade Agreement requires new laws which prevent “circumvention of technological protection measures”. Some companies want the government to go further and ban any access that the copyright owner doesn’t allow. This means the music companies can decide how, when and where you listen to your music. Worse still, this law would apply to more than just CDs: games, software and movies are all included under the “technological” umbrella.

Will the record companies give you the choice? For their perspective, we quote Tommi Kyyrä, of IFPI Finland:

“Now, we need to understand that listening to music on your computer is an extra privilege. Normally people listen to music on their car or through their home stereos,” said Kyyrä. “If you are a Linux or Mac user, you should consider purchasing a regular CD player.”

But I’m no criminal!

Exactly! However, if the Australian Government caves in, you will be breaking the law by transferring songs from any “copy protected” CD you own. Instead, we want the law aimed clearly at piracy, by only banning things which actually infringe copyright.

Act now!

Tell the Government that you want control of your music, now and in the future. Linux Australia has made this easy by preparing a petition (PDF, 470kb) that you can download. By getting as many signatures on the petition as you can, and posting it to the address below you’ll be helping ensure that consumers have rights over digital content.
The petition

Follow these 3 easy steps to make your voice heard:

1. Download and print the petition.
2. Collect signatures from friends, family and colleagues – but make sure they haven’t already signed it elsewhere.
3. Post the signed petition to:
   Don’t Ban Innovation Petition
   GPO Box 4788
   Sydney NSW 2100
   AUSTRALIA

More information

This petition is being coordinated by Linux Australia. For more information, contact petition@iownmymusic.org or phone 0417 451 212 (international: +61 417 451 212).

Posted on 11 September 2007 by mike in I own my music!