Policy
The government’s proposed media laws have a feeding frenzy among the commentariat, who love talking about themselves. But it is all looking academic.
The Australians most vulnerable to cyberbullying – 14 and 15 years olds – are also the most likely to stand up and speak out about it.
ACCC review forces consumer contract changes, including with telcos
By Peter Dinham
The telecommunications industry has borne its share of scrutiny by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its review of unfair contract terms used in standard form consumer contracts. The review has resulted in changes to, or removal of the terms, by a number of companies across various industry sectors, including telcos.
Australian lawyer sceptical of new US Copyright Alert System (CAS)
By Alan ArnottIn April 2012, the High Court of Australia dismissed an appeal made by 34 Australian and United States film studios and other owners or licensees of copyright in commercially released films and television programmes. The judgment handed down by the Court sent a shockwave through the Australian telecommunications industry with one message: that internet service providers could not be held liable for copyright infringement carried out by their users.
ACMA has issued a formal warning to online retailer Groupon Australia for sending daily emails without the consent of people interested in its deals.
New protection codes for consumers of telecommunications and Internet services, including mobile phone users, are seemingly having the desired effect, with complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) about mobile services falling by 30% over the past year.
Many in the media, predictably led by News Limited publications, are expressing outrage at the Government’s proposed media reforms.
Claim of $350 million consumer windfall with credit rule changes
By Peter Dinham
EFTPOS services provider, Tyro, claims that consumers could soon enjoy an estimated financial windfall of $350 million a year, after proposed new rules allowing the banning of excessive credit and debit card fees.
In the latest skirmish between these two perennial litigants, a UK judge has determined that Apple did not violate Samsung's portfolio of 3G patents.
There has been a lot of smoke but little fire around the NBN’s construction schedule. Ideology has obscured the facts - or the facts are interpreted through partisan eyes.
