Malcolm Turnbull. Stefan Postles/Getty Images As Australians contemplate new data retention laws and the prospect of having their telecommunications data stored for two years, one of the architects of the legislation has revealed he prefers to use messaging services that are explicitly excluded from the bill. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered this self-styled “telecom advice” …

iiNet After months of anticipation, Australians have finally learned when they’ll be able to get their hands on a Netflix subscription, with news that the US-based streaming service is coming to Australia on March 24. But one of the biggest announcements to come off the back of this launch is that local ISP iiNet has inked a deal with Netflix …

Presto As competition between local streaming services heats up, Presto Entertainment has offered up a free 30-day trial of its streaming service. Under the trial, users will be able to access both Presto’s movie and TV bundles, forgoing the usual AU$14.99 monthly cost. Once the trial is over, customers can continue paying for the combined movie and TV package on …

Attorney-General George Brandis has been a strong supporter of data retention. Image by CeBIT Australia, CC BY 2.0 Despite concerns from industry groups, digital privacy advocates, cross-bench politicians and even at times the Federal opposition, a joint Parliamentary committee has recommended the Government’s proposed mandatory data retention legislation be passed into law. However, the committee has made 39 recommendations to …

Pinnacle Films The publication of an industry code to address copyright infringement may hold no bearing on the case between Dallas Buyers Club LLC and iiNet, with the decision on the case due to be handed down in three weeks. On the third day of a preliminary discovery hearing, Justice Perram was pointed towards the copyright code, released late last …

eBay Online giant eBay has paired with the bricks and mortar retailer Woolworths for a trial kicking off in Sydney and Tasmania across 90 Woolworths and Big W stores. Buyers will be able to choose from 40,000 items on eBay stores and, at the checkout stage, simply choose their nearest store for delivery. According to research commissioned by eBay, one …

Vodafone is partnering with Stan on a new content deal. Screenshot by Claire Reilly/CNET As part of the telco’s new Shared plan offering, new and existing Vodafone Red postpaid customers can now share plan inclusions, including calls, text messages and data, across up to 10 devices, with everything appearing on the one bill. In addition to upping the ante with …

Image by Jaskirat Singh Bawa, CC BY-ND 2.0 Internet service providers in Australia would be required to help identify repeat copyright infringers under a proposed “three-strikes” policy draft published Friday. The draft code, which was drafted by rights holders and service providers, came in response to an ultimatum from the Australian Government in December last year for an industry-developed approach …

The Prime Minister wants data retention laws to be passed “swiftly”. Tony Abbott on Facebook Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned that Australia’s law enforcement agencies face “unilateral disarmament” in the eyes of criminals if metadata laws are not passed “swiftly”. The comments came at a doorstop interview during which the PM discussed child protection, accompanied by Dan Tehan, chairman …

Pinnacle Films A key witness in Dallas Buyers Club’s case against iiNet has defended the rights holder’s actions against alleged pirates, particularly the so-called ‘discovery letters’ that are sent to those found infringing copyright. Counsel for iiNet cross-examined Michael Wickstrom, a royalties expert and vice president of Voltage Pictures, the company that claims copyright over the “Dallas Buyers Club” film. …