KickAss Torrents (Photo : Facebook)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) through its umbrella organization, the Communications Alliance, will publish a draft code aimed to eradicate online copyright infringement by illegally downloading music, videos and movies on the Internet by Friday.



This is in compliance with the order of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) that the industry should come up with their own draft of the proposed industry code on or before April. The failure of the industry, the agency will come up with the government draft for legislation purposes.




The public and industry stakeholders, according to Brisbane Times are encouraged to make comments on the industry drafted code. All comments will be studied and considered and will form part of the document to be submitted to the ACMA for legislation. Once it is enacted into law, its effectiveness will be independently evaluated after 18 months of its implementation for any revisions or amendments.



John Stanton, the Comms Alliance CEO, stated that the cooperative spirit and energy on both sides help in reaching an agreement on the draft code, thus reported by Lockerdome. Both the ISPs and copyright holders, while wanting to get rid of online piracy, they differ on many issues. However, both parties were able to beat the deadline the ACMA had set.



The draft code proposes a copyright infringement notice scheme, in which fixed internet users who are believed to have violated the copyright will receive an increasing notices intended to change their online behavior and to direct them to download from lawful internet sources.



The draft code also provides a strong safeguard of the privacy of internet users, as it allows fixed users who received 3 copyright infringement notices in one year, to contest the validity of the alleged piracy through a review of an independent third party.



Australia is one of the top countries in the world with a high incidence of online piracy.

