News
iPod use still legal in Australia
Australia’s Attorney General has clarified the country’s new copyright reforms, informing citizens that everyday activities such as owning an iPod and singing “Happy Birthday” are still legal. “The controversial Copyright Amendment Bill 2006, which, as of yesterday, passed through both houses of Parliament, will become law by January 1,” reports the Sydney Morning Herald. “Before it passed through the Senate, the bill underwent significant modifications, following immense criticism by industry bodies, the media and the public… The FAQ clarified that it would be perfectly legal to sing Happy Birthday in a public place, record television or radio programs for viewing at a later date, and copy legitimately purchased music to an external medium such as an iPod or a CD.”
Related Stories
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Infinity Blade II: Vault of Tears update released
- Purported iPod touch 5G panel points to larger screen
- Ravensburger launches Scotland Yard for iOS
- Apple product placement up in 2011
- Report: Siri APIs, Siri for iPad coming in iOS 6?
Comments
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Recent News
- Pulp adds iCloud sync, new Home Page
- WordPress for iOS adds Push Notifications
- Sony launches Music Unlimited for iOS
- Apple device poll ends, computing poll begins
- Fruit Ninja adds new features and power-ups
- Apple to sell Nest Learning Thermostat
- Third-gen iPad to launch in Guam, Philippines May 29
- Apple tweaks App Store with Editors’ Choice, Free picks
- Panic releases Diet Coda
- Booq rolls out new Folio for iPad
Recent Reviews
- Pelican i1075 Hardback Case for iPad
- Skinit Skins for iPad (3rd-Generation)
- Spigen SGP Steinheil Ultra Optics Screen Protector for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- ZeroChroma VarioProtect for iPhone 4/4S
- BodyGuardz UltraTough Clear Skins for iPad (3rd-Gen)
- Wrapsol Original + Ultra Hybrid Protective Film for iPad 2/iPad (3rd-Gen)
- iBattz Mojo Removable Power Card Wallet
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Power View Pro S 2.1A Dual Charging Dock
- dreamGEAR i.Sound Universal Power View
- Sena Cases Florence Portfolio for iPad (3rd-Gen)
Recent Articles
- Removing music from iTunes after copying to iPod
- iOS Gems: Farm 123, Facebook Camera, Scribblenauts, Shoot the Zombirds + Virtua Tennis Challenge
- iTunes TV show size totals don’t match actual disk storage
- Consolidating Multiple iTunes Libraries
- Converting Purchased Videos to 1080p HD
- Find My Friends always reports home location
- Creating an iTunes Match library from an external hard drive
- Benefits of keeping apps in iTunes when using iCloud
- Recovering iTunes from an External Hard Drive
- Normalizing volume levels for Voice Memos
1
“has acted to provide all stakeholders with certainty”
Translate: “has acted to please our partners that has contributed to our pocket.”
There should not be a worry about legality in singing happy birthday in the first place. This is a PR stunt to distory the public’s view, to make them think “oh, our government is still protecting us.” What if you want to record TV/radio/back up CD, but they are protected with DRM that prevented those actions? If it’s legal to record TV/radio/back up CD, then DRM should be illegal. Oh wait, backing up your CDs IS illegal: “the bill maintains that it would be illegal to “build up a collection [of recorded programs] to keep indefinitely for repeated use”“
Go figure…
Posted by pata2001 on December 6, 2006 at 1:27 PM (PDT)
2
Right! It is a sad day when we need our Attorney General to clarify that singing Happy Birthday in public is OK!
Imagine a world where it is illegal! Would we be rounded up and sued? If so, by whom?
The world is going crazy!
Posted by Philip Russell Walker on December 6, 2006 at 5:23 PM (PDT)
3
hahaahaha, i can’t believe they even considered making happy birthday illegal to sing.
who votes for these people?
Posted by Andrew on December 12, 2006 at 3:49 AM (PDT)