Yoho,
The guide to the FTA's out now. The IP section is at:
http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/us_fta/guide/17.html
It has this to say on circumvention stuff:
This Article has obligations regarding the circumvention of effective
technological measures; in other words it addresses certain types of
technology associated with copyright material. There are restrictions
in relation to the manufacture and provision of devices or services
used to circumvent effective technological measures, and restrictions
on the use of such devices or services. The Agreement also provides for
a review mechanism. The review mechanism will allow the Government
to make or introduce new exceptions in addition to those specifically
provided for in the Article. An example of an agreed exception is to
allow for certain types of reverse engineering for the interoperability
of computer software.
Implementation of this Article will require legislative change.
The nature and extent of those changes need to be carefully explored.
Article 17.12 provides that Australia has a two year period from the
date of entry into force of the Agreement to implement its obligations
under this provision.
-- http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/negotiations/us_fta/guide/17.html
Tony Abbott in parliament today: "the free trade agreement is a once
in a generation opportunity for Australia to link itself to the world's
largest and strongest economy."
Cheers,
aj
--
Anthony Towns <aj@humbug.org.au> <http://azure.humbug.org.au/~aj/>
I don't speak for anyone save myself. GPG signed mail preferred.
Linux.conf.au 2004 -- Because we could.
http://conf.linux.org.au/ -- Jan 12-17, 2004
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