Free TV Australia has welcomed the passage of stronger laws to address online copyright piracy. Expanded site blocking legislation introduced by Minister Mitch Fifield and passed with support from the Opposition, Greens and cross bench senators will empower content creators to fight copyright infringement.
Free TV Australia CEO, Bridget Fair said, “This legislation is a critical tool for content owners, including broadcasters, to protect their content against large-scale online piracy.
“Importantly, it acknowledges the role that online search engines play in facilitating access to pirated material. Content creators will now be able to seek orders to demote or remove search results for infringing sites.
Free TV broadcasters invest six out of every 10 dollars spent on Australian content production. They do this so that millions of Australians can watch great local content on commercial TV networks for free. Supporting measures that combat online piracy is critical to ensuring that this investment is not put at risk.
“We congratulate the Government for this important initiative which supports Australian creators to keep investing in great creative content,” Fair said.
