1.4 Overview of the Target Online Locations
28 The applicants categorise each of the target online locations as falling into one of seven classes, as defined in Mr Fraser's first affidavit and described below.
29 First, linking target online locations are websites that provide a means for users to locate third-party sources which allow content to be downloaded or streamed. Upon navigating to a linking target online location website, a user is often presented with the option to select featured content such as "New TV Shows" or "Popular Movies", or to search a catalogue or index for a particular title. Once the user has clicked on the desired title, the user is presented with a list of hyperlinks. Upon selecting a hyperlink, the user is re-directed to a third-party website and is able to download or stream the chosen film or television show.
30 Second, streaming target online locations are websites which allow a user to stream content hosted on that website. As with the linking target online locations, streaming target online locations often display featured content and provide the user with the option to search a catalogue or index for a particular title. Unlike the linking target online locations, however, the streaming target online locations allow the user to view the material on that same streaming target online location website without being re-directed to a third-party website.
31 Third, torrenting target online locations are websites which allow a group of users with the same networking program to connect with one or more other users and directly access and download files from each others' hard drives, without connecting through a central server. To view content obtained through a torrenting target online location, the user must first install software which will enable the user to connect to other users and download the selected file. As with the linking target online locations and streaming target online locations, torrenting target online locations often display featured content and provide the user with the option to search for a particular title in the website's catalogue or index. Upon selecting the desired title, the user chooses to download a file called a torrent file or a magnet link. Once downloaded, the file is opened using the torrenting software and the user is able to view the film or television content.
32 Fourth, downloading target online locations are websites which make files containing content available for download directly to a user's hard drive, without the need for the user to have installed software such as torrenting software. Again, as with the linking, streaming and torrenting target online locations, at a downloading online location users are typically presented with featured content and the option to search for a particular title in the website's catalogue or index. The user then selects the title they wish to view, and causes a file containing that film to be downloaded.
33 Fifth, subtitle target online locations are websites from which a user can download a file, typically in SubRip Text (SRT) format, which contains the subtitles to a cinematograph film. The two subtitle target online location websites in issue in these proceedings present the user with some featured content, such as "Most downloaded subtitles" or "Latest subtitles". The user also has the option to search the website's catalogue or index for a specific title. The user selects the title they wish to view, and causes the SRT file to be downloaded. Once downloaded, the SRT files may be opened or used in two ways. First, the user can view the text of the subtitles with a text editor program. Second, the user can embed the file into a matching video source, enabling the subtitles to be synchronised with the playback of the cinematograph film. This is accomplished by the user opening the relevant cinematograph film file through a computer program, such as VLC Player, and either clicking and dragging the SRT file into the VLC Player, or by navigating through the appropriate fields under user "preferences" to open the SRT file from within the VLC Player.
34 The applicants advance a claim of copyright in the subtitles as a literary work, separate to their claim of copyright in the cinematograph film to which the subtitles are applied. A person who does, or who authorises the doing of, any act comprised in the copyright in a literary work without the licence of the copyright owner, infringes copyright: s 36(1) of the Act. Section 14 of the Act provides that references to the doing of an act in relation to a work "shall be read as including a reference to the doing of that act in relation to a substantial part of the work". Mr Fraser exhibits to his first affidavit a table comparing the applicants' authorised subtitles to the subtitles made available through the SRT files which he downloaded from the subtitle target online locations. The discrepancies between the authorised subtitles and the SRT files are minor: for example, in the authorised subtitles for Shameless (season four, episode 12) the authorised subtitles read "Two dollars", while the SRT file subtitles read "$2". I am satisfied that the SRT files communicate to the public a substantial part of the applicants' literary works, and that such acts of communication to the public are an infringement of copyright as they are done without the consent or licence of the copyright owner.
35 Sixth, proxy target online locations are websites which do not themselves provide links to content or offer users categories of content such as "New Releases". Rather, proxy target online locations provide links to third party streaming, torrenting or downloading online locations. Typically, those third party streaming, torrenting or downloading online locations are either difficult to find, or operate under the same or a similar name to online locations that have been the subject of injunctions ordered by this Court in other proceedings. The links provided by the proxy target online locations usually either redirect the user to webpages located at a different domain name, or to webpages which are hosted as a subdomain of the proxy target online location. Only after being redirected to the third party website or subdomain is the user presented with categories such as "New Releases" or offered the option to search a catalogue or index for particular content.
36 For example, the proxy target online location "unblocked.to" provides a navigation bar from which a user can select categories such as "Torrent Proxies", "Streaming Proxies" and "Direct Download proxies". If the user selects "Torrent Proxies", they are taken to a screen which lists a number of third party websites, including The Pirate Bay, access to which was blocked pursuant to orders made in Roadshow No. 1. If the user selects the link to The Pirate Bay offered by the "unblocked.to" target online location, they are redirected to a webpage at the subdomain "thepb.unblocked.to", which displays what appears to be the branding and homepage or landing page for the online location The Pirate Bay, and allows the user to search for and download torrent files as if they are using The Pirate Bay. Similarly, if the user selects "Streaming Proxies" from the navigation bar, they are taken to a webpage which lists a number of third party websites, including PrimeWire, access to which was blocked pursuant to orders made in Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Limited [2017] FCA 965. By selecting PrimeWire, the user is redirected to the subdomain "primewire.unblocked.to", which uses the PrimeWire branding and enables the user to search for and stream films as if they are using PrimeWire.
37 Seventh, the Popcorn Time target online location is a website which does not enable users to download, stream or torrent movies or television shows; rather, it allows users to download a piece of software known as "Popcorn Time", through which software users can stream movies or television shows. Upon visiting the Popcorn Time website, the user is prompted to click on a link to download a version of the software which is compatible with their device's operating system, such as Windows or iOS. Once the software file has been downloaded, the user can click on the file and cause the software to be installed on their device. Once installed, the software can be opened and run. At that stage, the user is presented with a selection of films and television programs available to be viewed. The user can either select a film, or search for a particular title. Once the user has selected a film to view, the film is streamed and played within the Popcorn Time software window. The operation of the Popcorn Time target online location is explained further at paragraph [52] below.
38 It is convenient to consider the applications brought in respect of the MPA/Roadshow, TVB and Madman claims separately.