The Australian Senate committee reviewing the legislation providing a site-blocking remedy for online copyright infringement has recommended adoption, subject only to minor changes.

The committee’s report proposes the following four amendments be made to the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015:

1. the list of matters to be taken into account by the court in considering whether to grant a site-blocking remedy be made inclusive, rather than prescriptive;
2. it be specified that “reasonable steps to disable access to an online location” may include use of a landing page stating that the location has been blocked by court order;
3. a formal review of the effectiveness of the legislation be completed two years after its enactment; and
4. the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the legislation provide greater clarity and guidance on the issue of the service provider’s costs of, and liability subsequent to, compliance with a site-blocking order.