The move comes weeks after the conclusion of an appeal in the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft's two-year long court case raised against the ISP and won by iiNet. After the trial, iiNet chief executive Michael Malone reiterated his view that iiNet had never encouraged illegal access to material protected by copyright, and called for the entertainment industry to provide better models for making its content available legally online.
Today, iiNet published a new paper entitled Encouraging Legitimate use of Online Content (PDF), in which it outlined a proposed framework for dealing with the problem outside of the courts.
The paper, according to iiNet, draws from considerations included in the Federal Court's case that showed making content available, in a timely fashion and at an affordable price, reduced piracy. The purpose of the publication is to propose a new operational model for both ISPs and the film industry to enhance the provision of protected material and ensure policing of infringements.
'iiNet has developed a model which addresses ISP concerns but one we think remains attractive to all participants, including the sustainable strategy of an impartial referee for the resolution of disputes and the issue of penalties for offenders,' Malone said in a statement.
With regard to proved infringements, iiNet advised the independent body should impose penalties with a graduated scale of demerit points, fines, shaping or court action for repeat offenders, but excluded the practice of simply disconnecting users from the internet, which iiNet regards as inappropriate.
