Public Address | Cafe | Access: Geoblocking, global mode and NZ as a disgraceful accessibility backwater

balrob

Sun, 30 Aug 2015 19:07:13 +1200

hmmm not really Steve, since this topic isn't about piracy. It's about people who have paid to, for example, watch the US version of Netflix, yet find that technological measures have been deployed to prevent the importation of the video stream. The copyrights owners want the right to divide the…

Kim Robinson

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 10:01:58 +1200

https://bnsl.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/weve-been-approached-by-representatives-of-the-deaf-community-who-rely-on-global-mode/

The threats has caused one ISP to disable their GM service.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1504/S00354/another-regional-isp-forced-to-switch-off-global-mode.htm

Kim Robinson

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 09:59:26 +1200

Sacha,

I have previously used that with Victoria in our Human Rights case against the Telecommunications sector to get the provision of a Relay Service established in NZ.

This access needs to be defended at all costs as the threats by these major NZ companies is a serious attack on…

Sacha

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 09:46:03 +1200

Thank you, Kim. Has anyone used a human rights angle in NZ courts over access to information before?

Kim Robinson

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 00:13:19 +1200

My take on this.

https://messagesent.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/the-perfect-flashpoint/

Kim Robinson

Tue, 14 Apr 2015 17:24:28 +1200

The legal action taken by these companies has created the perfect flash point.

In return to the deadline given by 5pm Wednesday 15th April, I emailed their legal representation with the request that these companies provide captioning access by that deadline as well.

Once that deadline has passed, I'll be…

Russell Brown

Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:14:33 +1200

Interesting news overnight: HBO Now is now available on Apple devices, effectively presenting as a $US14.99/month on-demand “channel”, no cable account required.

And the battle between HBO and Netflix.

Paul Campbell

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 22:03:30 +1200

why don’t Customs have a website and an online payment system?

They have. I think you’ll need to register as an importer with Customs first.

http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feepayment/Pages/chargesforunaccompaniedgoods.aspx

yeah but you have to be able to get the invoice (normally it's someone at Fedex et al who call you, and wants their…

llew40

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 19:02:12 +1200

Thanks Jonathan have been very interested in hearing the perspective of local content creators and the potential impact on them of a global rights model.

Jonathan King

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:24:44 +1200

I’m sure it does apply to ‘indie’ producers in lots of places: if you’re not selling to a multi-national you’re selling to individual territories. Aggregators that can get you onto iTunes or Amazon are emerging – but these are often support for self-publishing – they aren’t picking up your thing…

Sacha

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:17:03 +1200

That's really interesting. Does the same dynamic apply to other smaller countries who are part of a larger grouping like the EU?

Jonathan King

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:12:44 +1200

I agree with all of this post about the inevitability and importance of the borderlessness Internet, and I’m frequently cursing myself when something is ‘not available in your country’; Also the shutting out of legitimate use by special needs users is disgraceful.

I would just throw in to the mix,…

JR

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:09:16 +1200

Looks like Netflix may be about to start to do their dirty work for them: Netflix's new terms allows the termination of accounts using a VPN

Steve Barnes

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:20:25 +1200

CallPlus may be facilitating this, but there's nothing to stop anyone from signing up for a VPN.

Or use an extension or add on for your browser, like Hola

Asinius

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 11:13:22 +1200

why don't Customs have a website and an online payment system?

They have. I think you'll need to register as an importer with Customs first.

http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feepayment/Pages/chargesforunaccompaniedgoods.aspx

Sacha

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 10:11:50 +1200

they are buggy whip manufacturers

yep. giddy up

kevinM

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 09:03:56 +1200

A few thoughts

CallPlus may be facilitating this, but there's nothing to stop anyone from signing up for a VPN. This provides the same outcome : You can configure your internet access so it appears that you're from the US (or the UK for iPlayer)

Sky in particular must be…

Yamis

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 19:04:47 +1200

Professional sporting bodies are already doing it. NBA league pass $210 a year for thousands of games, NRL $90 a year, NFL league pass etc all through their websites... rugby will go the same way (what would you pay to watch a Blues game on your laptop live through the…

Kumara Republic

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 14:54:46 +1200

I bthink that the content creators will realise that they can make more money if they sell stuff themselves, directly to the end user – yes they'll probably pay a SVOD platform (like NetFlix or LightBox) to host it for them – but the world has changed – the very…

andin

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 13:08:55 +1200

we’ll pay less

uh huh! ..... crickets......

Paul Campbell

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 10:13:06 +1200

Paul, it’s still definitely a content owners/sellers market. There are now lots of SVOD services competing/bidding for the rights which is driving up price.

Yes but I think that's going to change – I remember when I was a kid – we have a very controlled economy in NZ -…

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 07:54:14 +1200

I spent a decade or so building set top boxes
speaking of broadbands…
I miss Betamax© too.

:- )

llew40

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 05:39:24 +1200

Paul, it's still definitely a content owners/sellers market. There are now lots of SVOD services competing/bidding for the rights which is driving up price. Have seen this first hand. The really savvy content creators/ owners, with sufficient scale, like HBO or the big US sports like NBA are choosing to…

izogi

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 00:04:41 +1200

I think they also know there's a distinct chance that they will lose if this gets to court. The Copyright Act seems reasonably clear on access vs copying, which is why we have parallel importing and region-free DVD players.

You may be right (and I hope so), but longer term…

Paul Campbell

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 23:12:18 +1200

The US also has "must carry" rules which means that cable and satellite companies must carry local broadcast TV stations – the trade off is that they don't have to pay for the broadcast TV they use. Here, with so few broadcast channels, we could require NZ on Air content…

Tim Croft

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 20:31:41 +1200

Part of the problem is the way media has been distributed in New Zealand (as opposed to, say, the U.S.). For example, in NZ, Sky acts for the most part as content creator and distributor. If you want ESPN there's no other distributor to provide that. Whereas, in the U.S.…

Kumara Republic

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 17:53:12 +1200

But ... the Copyright Act is, on the face of it, unlikely to provide much joy to the parties who've sent the C&D letter.

Looks like yet another law decided on the whim of litigation in any case.

This won’t be decided on the Commerce Act. Apart from anything else, anti-competitive…

Paul Campbell

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 17:52:13 +1200

Yes but things are changing – I can buy my books from Amazon on my Kindle, or at my local book store, or as I used to, take an extra bag when I travel and fill it with books.

The same happened with music – I could buy from my…

Russell Brown

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 17:44:42 +1200

Will be interesting few years.

I think you've nailed it.

But ... the Copyright Act is, on the face of it, unlikely to provide much joy to the parties who've sent the C&D letter.

Russell Brown

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 17:41:13 +1200

Slightly off topic but I’ve realised that the thing that I find most offensive about the current attack on our right to choose who we purchase our media from is that what happens is that someone like Lightbox or Sky goes to someone like HBO or Showtime and negotiates away…

llew40

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 17:16:27 +1200

I think I understand your point but the way content is currently sold makes that end game difficult without ignoring buyers rights. Many people may shrug and say so what, but it's the buyers who are trying to build an nz market (after years of people lamenting the lack of…

Paul Campbell

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 16:55:40 +1200

As I read the Commerce act yes I think it is.

I don't see a problem with the NZRFU licensing rugby to other then Sky, why shouldn't Netflix or Lightbox sell it too? the result is that the subscribers get shafted, want rugby or Game of Thrones, you need a…

llew40

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 14:58:22 +1200

So you think the notion of 'exclusive rights' is illegal?

Problem with that is the creators of content rely on the revenue generated from selling of 'exclusive' rights. Without that we won't get as much quality content. E.g. NZRU depends on selling exclusive rights to all black games, without that…

Paul Campbell

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 14:43:49 +1200

I'm saying the paying for exclusive rights within New Zealand creates a monopoly with New Zealand – which is illegal, and therefore not enforceable

(to repeat what I quoted above)

Section 27(1) of the Commerce act says “No person shall enter into a contract or arrangement, or arrive at an…

llew40

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 14:17:40 +1200

Sorry Paul don't understand your point. Are you suggesting that companies who pay for 'exclusive' rights to offer you content in a competitive market are not, in fact paying to bring you a desirable product, but are instead 'negotiating away your choice and practising monopolistic behavior'? That just seems ....…

Paul Campbell

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 13:28:40 +1200

I havent heard heard such a load of whinny self entitlement in a long time!. My good friend it is the producers of the show who sell the rights to who ever they choose. As for your rights, you are essentially naked, zilch, nada

It still doesn't give you a…

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 10:48:14 +1200

I just realised – realised 'art' is a commodity!
but ideas/concepts are free...
..now how to move them around?

llew40

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 10:10:43 +1200

Points about accessibility well made. It is perhaps no excuse, but it is hard for start up services, which is essentially what all NZ SVOD services are, to cater for all accessibility options from day 1. Particularly those that don't get funding assistance.

I think another question to ask is,…

llew40

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 09:55:31 +1200

It's an issue as much about rights sellers as rights holders

Steve Curtis

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 09:54:50 +1200

what happens is that someone like Lightbox or Sky goes to someone like HBO or Showtime and negotiates away MY right to choose my media provider for a particular show

I havent heard heard such a load of whinny self entitlement in a long time!. My good friend it is…

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 06:50:57 +1200

When Cartels Attack
Pudding, the cartel before the hordes?

:- )

Kumara Republic

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 21:38:52 +1300

When Cartels Attack, 2015 Online Special Edition.

Paul Campbell

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 21:12:54 +1300

Slightly off topic but I've realised that the thing that I find most offensive about the current attack on our right to choose who we purchase our media from is that what happens is that someone like Lightbox or Sky goes to someone like HBO or Showtime and negotiates away…

Yamis

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 20:36:05 +1300

Regular readers to this blog will remember my post on Radio Sport’s appalling coverage of the cricket world cup.

Off topic for the most part so apologies, but Radio Sport ugh. The have become all about personalities and a massive staff and less and less about what they used to…

Russell Brown

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 12:20:53 +1300

showing you are trying to protect the exclusive rights you have is part of the legal game you have to play.

I think they also know there's a distinct chance that they will lose if this gets to court. The Copyright Act seems reasonably clear on access vs copying, which…

Steve Curtis

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 11:41:40 +1300

NZ broadcasters need to pursue foreign producers over the 'exclusive' rights they were misleadingly sold

I think that is 'real' reason for the approach by rights holders. Just as in copyright ,the Hilton Hotel chain goes after a West Coast flyspot backpackers with the same name, showing you are trying…

Sacha

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 11:02:25 +1300

The NZ broadcasters need to pursue foreign producers over the 'exclusive' rights they were misleadingly sold, rather than play Canute with NZ customers.

Genuine accessibility should be a regulated bottom line for anything broadcast in New Zealand, whatever the medium. I was glad to see the Green party promoting a…

Russell Brown

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 10:48:13 +1300

Thanks for permission to republish this, Jonathan.

I can actually see both sides of the broader argument. What we’re experiencing is the uncomfortable transition between a territorial rights model which is still the basis of the global television market – and an inevitable but still sketchy post-territorial world.

But on…

Public Address

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 10:48:13 +1300

Discussion from blog post.