The Australian Government should implement the recommendation made in the House of Representatives Committee report, At What Cost? IT pricing and the Australia tax to amend the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), to make clear that it is not an infringement for consumers to circumvent geoblocking technology

One of the most controversial issues to affect Australians in the contemporary world is that of copyright owners’ use of geoblocking technology to withhold some of their content. As a result, it is important that Australia take the necessary steps to ensure that its people have the right to dodge content geoblocking as a means of making sure that they have the best quality of content possible. Furthermore, this action should be enshrined in Australian laws so that it is possible for Australians to actively undertake dodging of content geoblocking whenever they feel that they can attain a better quality of the same product elsewhere. One of the many targets for dodging is the geoblocking technology that is used by copyright owners for the purpose of segmenting the internet. The result is that Australians end up being offered a lower level of digital service for a higher price than would normally be the case in situations where the same content is sold in overseas markets. This should be a matter of concern especially considering that this technology ends up treating Australians unfairly despite their paying a higher price for the digital content that they would like to enjoy. Therefore, as the defender of the right of Australians to achieve the best quality of digital services possible, it has become essential for the government to make sure that it promotes the achievement of these services through legalizing geoblocking dodging as a right for its citizens. The result would be greater freedoms among citizens to make sure that they are able to dodge geoblocking technology without fear of legal consequences.

Currently, a significant number of consumers have come to make use of technology that allows them to circumvent geoblocks as a means of promoting their acquisition of the best digital content possible. Furthermore, their use of DNS and VPN technologies has allowed for the advancement of the interests of Australians because they have been able to acquire content that would otherwise be normally be blocked to them as a result of geoblocking technology. This is highly significant because it makes it possible for citizens to pay a fair price for full, high quality content that makes it possible for them to enjoy and make use of it as they see fit. Therefore, the government should make sure that it avoids any crackdowns on geoblock circumventing technology because to do so would mean that the government is a player in denying citizens their right to fairly priced digital content. The practice of circumventing geoblocking should be enshrined in law so that the right of Australians to full, high quality content can be upheld while at the same time discouraging practices of geoblocking that have proven to be ineffective in promoting the rights of users. Geoblocking is an infringement on user rights and the Australian government should take steps to prevent future rights owners to take advantage of the ambiguous Australian copyright system that might end up leading to a situation where consumers are unfairly taken advantage of through the use of geoblocking technology. Thus, the legalization of geoblocking technology should be made into law as a means of discouraging unscrupulous copyright owners.

As a result of these circumstances, and in the interest of the pubic, it is important that the Australian government take action to ensure that there is the implementation of the recommendations made in the report At What Cost? IT pricing and the Australia tax to amend the Copyright Act 1968 in order to make Australians realize that it is not a crime for them to circumvent geoblocking technology. This is especially the case considering that it is important for the government to make sure that it does not get entangled in international agreements that would prevent its citizens from accessing digital content of the highest quality at fair prices. There should be a realization that it is better to allow content to be easily accessed because it is the only way through which to ensure that there is a reduction in the number of copyright infringements while at the same time promoting the rights of owners to benefit from their creations. Crackdowns on circumvention of geoblocking technology only works towards encouraging piracy to such an extent that it might end up making this problem even worse. Thus, the legalization of geododging by the government would be a sure way of making sure that there is control to piracy while at the same time safeguarding the public interest.