Stranded in the Technological Dark Ages: Implications of the Full Federal Court’s Decision in NRL v. Optus

Abstract:     
Australia’s Full Federal Court recently overturned the findings of the trial judge in the Optus v NRL television time-shifting case. Finding that the time-shifting provider (and not just the user) “makes” the relevant recording, the decision effectively renders remote television time-shifting services unlawful in Australia. This paper argues that it also has significant ramifications for more traditional time-shifting technologies, and, if not overturned, might decimate the value of the nascent Australian time-shifting right and strand consumers in a technological dark age.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 10

Keywords: time shifting, time-shifting, time shift, time-shift, timeshift, timeshifting, betamax, sony, cartoon network, optus, telstra, copyright, infringement, internet streaming rights

JEL Classification: O34

Accepted Paper Series