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Comment by catmanjan | Hacker News Reader

While that is probably technically true, in reality the Australian government is unlikely to make Australian businesses comply, giving them a competitive advantage - I think this is a protectionist policy, but the right won't admit to that because it goes against their "free market" ideals.

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What's probably going to happen, however, is that small times bloggers will take over the news scene in Facebook. It won't bother me, since major news outlet have become crap already.

Does Australia have businesses in similar model like Facebook? Or are you talking about completely different models?

I don't believe we do, but I think the government may be thinking that now would be an excellent opportunity for someone to give it a go (our prime minister has a funny saying "if you have a go, you will get a go")

> if you have a go, you will get a go

OT and I do understand the meaning, but as a matter of language isn’t this in the wrong order?

Yes, if you assume that both parts refer to the same “go.” But “have a go” here means something like “work hard and contribute to the economy.” It doesn’t refer to possessing the thing you “get” in exchange, ie. money.

I haven't read the legislation so I don't know for sure, but from what I understand about it, it might be an even better time to start a news media company.

Just by publishing, Google are compelled to negotiate with you on the price to license something that they are being forced to license? I can only imagine that there is or will be some mechanism that allows them off the hook, otherwise it's only a matter of time until they have to leave Australia.

It would be a big risk, considering defamation laws in Australia, not to mention being at the mercy of the government for your business model.

I suppose it has worked in Russia and China though.

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