Ruddock says that he's going to do something sensible

I'll count this chicken after it's hatched:

Amendments to Australia's copyright laws expected to be passed this week will make it legal for consumers to use modified chips (mod-chips) that circumvent anti-piracy technology built into game consoles if they also overcome measures that restrict the use of DVDs and games titles purchased legally in other regions.

Common sense in third-millennial copyright legislation? I don't know what to say. It's just so... unexpected.

And Ruddock has shown some actual nous by doing this. Endorsing the above has required him to reject the recommendations of the relevant Senate standing committee. (Obviously the industry lobbyists fucked up and bribed strenuously lobbied the wrong people. Ha ha, suckers.) Phillip Ruddock stood up and did something that Australians wanted him to do.

I... wow.

Of course, this legislation has been bouncing back and forth from "insane and oppressive" to "mildly annoying" for weeks, so I'll believe that it's lunged over to "vaguely sensible" when I've had a chance to read the relevant sections and when they've survived the Senate.

Until then, paint me cynically skeptical.

Phillip Ruddock? Gosh.