Heads of major Australian sporting codes have lobbied Prime Minister Julia Gillard to adapt digital copyright laws, following a court ruling which clearing Optus of copyright infringement.
Last week Optus won a copyright infringement case against the AFL, NRL and Telstra, which alleged Optus violated copyright through its TV Now service. The judge presiding over the case, Justice Steven Rares, said the TV Now service functioned as a time-shifting device and was no different to other recording devices, and as such did not breach copyright.
However, the heads of sporting bodies, including NRL chief executive David Gallop and AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, have said the decision will negatively impact future sports rights negotiations.
According to The Australian, sporting chiefs pushed the government to change the Copyright Act at a meeting with the Prime Minister, Attorney General Nicola Roxon, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and Sport Minister Mark Abib.
Conroy has already said the Optus decision is “far reaching”, but is awaiting the outcome of any appeals before deciding to intervene.
Demetriou has said the AFL will appeal the decision. However, if the decision is overturned, Optus may choose to take the case to the High Court.
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