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mdf

mdf
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  #1281471 12-Apr-2015 14:52
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I've thought about this a bit more, and below is my case for the defence (as it were). See this post for the case for the prosecution.

The main argument is that, contrary to the prosecution, breaching the Netflix (or other VOD service) terms and conditions is just a breach of contract, not a breach of copyright. This is a matter purely between the customer and Netflix. The anti-globalmoders can't sue for breach of a contract they are not a party to. This is called the doctrine of privity. Further, even if Netflix did sue, it has suffered no loss so the customer is not liable for anything (note however the "nuclear option" described below).

The policy intent (or statutory scheme or "vibe") of the Copyright Act is clearly to allow parallel importing/circumventing regional locks and/or pocket pricing (see in particular section 226, proviso regarding TPMs not including geographic market segmentation devices).

By analogy, parallel importing books and DVDs is clearly contemplated by the Copyright Act. The difference between books/DVDs and Netflix is that Neflix's terms and conditions say "only US customers". To elevate a breach of such terms and conditions to a breach of copyright would undermine this. Copyright owners could effectively ban any kind of parallel importing by including in the book/DVD EULA "this may only be read/viewed in the USA" (DVDs at least may already purport to do this, but I couldn't for the life of me find any DVD EULAs on the internet). This would clearly be contrary to the intent of the Copyright Act.

As there is no breach of copyright by making an infringing copy, then the only possible issue could be breach by"importing" a copy. As outlined extensively elsewhere in this thread, this is protected in New Zealand by the parallel importing provisions. See in particular section 12(5A).

Therefore if there is no breach of copyright by customers, the ISPs and Bypass Networks aren't providing a means for making infringing copies (see section 37), they are merely providing a passive conduit. Everyone goes home happy. Except Lightbox et al.

It would be helpful for this argument if anyone was able to provide examples of other uses of globalmode that clearly have nothing to do with copyright. I couldn't really think of any though.
--

The "nuclear option" I mentioned above would be for Lightbox etc. to discontinue its action against the ISPs, and instead go after the copyright owners (e.g. movie studios). Lightbox's agreement with (say) Warner Bros will include something to the effect of "Lightbox will have the exclusive rights in NZ to distribute title X". Warners would be in breach of this agreement if it allowed someone else to distribute title X in NZ (i.e. Netflix).

While this would seem to be self defeating (Warners isn't likely to look on being sued nicely), it could be a negotiating ploy by agreement. What I would actually imagine happening is Warners saying "okay" to being sued. What it would then do is join Netflix as a co-defendant for breaching it's agreement with Warners, which would likely include something to the effect of "Netflix will not distribute title X in territories other than those specified in this agreement".

This would be a ploy to get around the privity issues described above. Lightbox can't actually sue Netflix, because there is no privity. But lightbox has an agreement with Warners, and Warners has an agreement with Netflix.

The case would then settle by Netflix agreement to implement increased region controls that aren't quite so easy to circumvent.

Or alternatively, Netflix going after it's NZ subscribers for indemnity for breach of the customer's warranty that they are based in the USA. But suing customers has ended so well previously for other media conglomerates, I can't imagine that Netflix would have any hesitation pulling the litigation trigger. /sarcasm

This is a nuclear scenario, because in a lot of ways, everyone loses. Lightbox doesn't want to sue Warners and Warners doesn't want to be sued. Netflix certainly isn't happy and neither are it's globalmode customers. But it ultimately may lead to the outcome Lightbox wants, particularly if the case for the defence outlined above is successful.



Rikkitic
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  #1281498 12-Apr-2015 15:24
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mdf: 
It would be helpful for this argument if anyone was able to provide examples of other uses of globalmode that clearly have nothing to do with copyright. I couldn't really think of any though.
--


There is a lot of content in the public domain (i.e., not protected by copyright) that is made freely available to residents of the USA (for example), but still cannot be accessed by anyone outside that country. PBS sometimes has content like this, and there are many others. Using Global Mode for this does not violate copyright in any way. I think there also used to be exceptions to copyright protection for the blind in America though I'm not certain of the details. Jonathan Mosen talks about audio description media not available here. Whether any of that would have exemptions to copyright protection I do not know, but it would be pretty hard to argue against allowing blind people access to it if no-one here is making it available. 






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  #1281499 12-Apr-2015 15:26
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It was interesting to see a few comments from Richard Llewelyn from Spark over this matter on Twitter - he's essentially been the face of this from the Spark end. It seems they're still very confused over exactly what they're arguing both for and against.





raytaylor
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  #1281519 12-Apr-2015 16:10
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Legal use of globalmode - Anonymity

Just like torrenting isnt illegal because games can use it for patch updates etc, lightbox is claiming that globalmode is purely for copyright infringement.

I stand by that argument, however as the evil lawyers have pointed out in their letters to the ISPs, they are actively encouraging the customers to break their terms of service with overseas content providers through the global mode advertising, whenever specific providers like netflix, bbc iplayer, hulu etc are mentioned.





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NonprayingMantis
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  #1281535 12-Apr-2015 16:56
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raytaylor: Legal use of globalmode - Anonymity

Just like torrenting isnt illegal because games can use it for patch updates etc, lightbox is claiming that globalmode is purely for copyright infringement.

I stand by that argument, however as the evil lawyers have pointed out in their letters to the ISPs, they are actively encouraging the customers to break their terms of service with overseas content providers through the global mode advertising, whenever specific providers like netflix, bbc iplayer, hulu etc are mentioned.



Ummm, how exactly does global mode provide anonymity? (Are you thinking of Vpns? Global mode is not a vpn)


NonprayingMantis
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  #1281538 12-Apr-2015 17:00
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Rikkitic:
mdf: 
It would be helpful for this argument if anyone was able to provide examples of other uses of globalmode that clearly have nothing to do with copyright. I couldn't really think of any though.
--


There is a lot of content in the public domain (i.e., not protected by copyright) that is made freely available to residents of the USA (for example), but still cannot be accessed by anyone outside that country. PBS sometimes has content like this, and there are many others. Using Global Mode for this does not violate copyright in any way. I think there also used to be exceptions to copyright protection for the blind in America though I'm not certain of the details. Jonathan Mosen talks about audio description media not available here. Whether any of that would have exemptions to copyright protection I do not know, but it would be pretty hard to argue against allowing blind people access to it if no-one here is making it available. 




Main issue with this method of argument is this:

Global mode does not simply enable any and all overseas sites to work. The global mode 'guys' have to specifically choose which sites they 'unblock' I,e, it is not a passive thing that just 'happens' to be used for (potential) copyright infringement*. It is something specifically setup and designed for that purpose. That's why many sites still don't work, and you have to put a request in to get it to work.

Not only that, but it is clearly advertised and promoted as a way to acces Netflix.

*(Assuming it could be shown that accessing Netflix us amounts to copyright infringement of course)

Thinking back to the torrent analogy, torrents are allowed becasue there are legitimate uses for torrents. The illegal ones cannot be singled out and blocked without also blocking all other legitimate torrents.


Global mode is very different. Let's imagine it was shown that accessing Netflix usa was illegal, but that accessing bbc iplayer was not. It would be trivial for global mode to 'turn off' Netflix but leave iplayer still accessible.

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  #1281556 12-Apr-2015 18:00
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NonprayingMantis:
raytaylor: Legal use of globalmode - Anonymity

Just like torrenting isnt illegal because games can use it for patch updates etc, lightbox is claiming that globalmode is purely for copyright infringement.

I stand by that argument, however as the evil lawyers have pointed out in their letters to the ISPs, they are actively encouraging the customers to break their terms of service with overseas content providers through the global mode advertising, whenever specific providers like netflix, bbc iplayer, hulu etc are mentioned.



Ummm, how exactly does global mode provide anonymity? (Are you thinking of Vpns? Global mode is not a vpn)



I disagree with NonprayingMantis on most of his posts on this thread, but this one he's quite right. It's not a VPN, it does not guarantee any anonymity.





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  #1281559 12-Apr-2015 18:19
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And what about people that have dual residency?

mdf

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  #1281560 12-Apr-2015 18:20
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NonprayingMantis: 

Global mode does not simply enable any and all overseas sites to work. The global mode 'guys' have to specifically choose which sites they 'unblock' I,e, it is not a passive thing that just 'happens' to be used for (potential) copyright infringement*. It is something specifically setup and designed for that purpose. That's why many sites still don't work, and you have to put a request in to get it to work.



I didn't know that (don't use globalmode). That would really undermine the "passive conduit" type defence that is usually available to ISPs.

sultanoswing
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  #1281561 12-Apr-2015 18:20
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Too bad for CallPlus I'm not the judge in the case, as FWIW (stuff all, I acknowledge!) I for one am quite pursuaded by the position outlined by mdf, in contrast to the opposing statements and arguments.

lchiu7
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  #1281562 12-Apr-2015 18:22
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mdf:
NonprayingMantis: 

Global mode does not simply enable any and all overseas sites to work. The global mode 'guys' have to specifically choose which sites they 'unblock' I,e, it is not a passive thing that just 'happens' to be used for (potential) copyright infringement*. It is something specifically setup and designed for that purpose. That's why many sites still don't work, and you have to put a request in to get it to work.



I didn't know that (don't use globalmode). That would really undermine the "passive conduit" type defence that is usually available to ISPs.


Even the commercial products like Unotelly and Block-US have to add settings for different services to unblock so they are also hardly passive. But then they are commercial, not tied to a local ISP and not located in NZ or the US so difficult to seek legal remedy from.




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  #1281565 12-Apr-2015 18:35
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trig42: Surely all it does is allow parallel importing? That is legal.

Are they going to then say we cannot buy DVDs, Games and Bluray from Amazon?


That is, apparently, exactly what the TPP will do. 






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old3eyes
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  #1281580 12-Apr-2015 18:55
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Linuxluver:
trig42: Surely all it does is allow parallel importing? That is legal.

Are they going to then say we cannot buy DVDs, Games and Bluray from Amazon?


That is, apparently, exactly what the TPP will do. 




Yep.  So true..




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  #1282039 13-Apr-2015 12:45
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So this is why CallPlus has been so quiet about this: M2 buys CallPlus.

I wonder how long before they deactivate GlobalMode saying "the market doesn't need this service"...






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  #1282041 13-Apr-2015 12:48
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Lightbox CEO, Kym Niblock, states their case here.


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