Got ripped tunes on your iPod? Go directly to jail, mate {Engadget}

Nov 21st 2006 6:52PM I'm an Australian who also happens to be extemely well read and travelled including at least 12 visits to the USA so I'm not going to dignify your comments with a response as I know that the majority of the citizens of the USA are good and well meaning people.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of USA citizens are largely ignorant of other countries. As I said, ignorance, not studity. That's the fault of education and, I suspect, a result of the fact that the vast majority of US citizens do not have a passport nor have they ever had one.

As for the issue being discussed here, this legislation (it isn't law yet) is actually coming as a result of the recent Free Trade Agreement signed between the USA and Australia. Many of my compatriots felt that the whole negotiation process for the FTA was far too rushed and we (i.e. Australia) ended up with a very poor agreement that was largely in the USA's favor at the expense of our interests. As I said, the tightening up of copyright law here is mostly as a result of pressure from the United States. So if there is any fault for this, the fault lies in the District of Columbia!