Kids the losers in Optus TV case: Minister

Young kids on sports fields are the real losers of a court ruling that allows Optus to record matches shown on free-to-air television and replay them to customers, the federal government says.

Earlier this month the Federal Court found Optus did not breach copyright law by broadcasting sports matches shown on free-to-air television — delayed by up to two minutes — through its TV Now mobile service.

The decision, which is being appealed, threatens exclusive TV rights deals worth tens of millions of dollars.

"In the end, if this court case stands, then the revenues (of Australia's biggest football codes) will take a big hit... when it plays itself out, the big losers will be those kids on the sporting playing fields," federal sports minister, Mark Arbib, told Sky News on Sunday.

That was because they would end up paying more for registration and other expenses, he said.

Senator Arbib said the government was responding by reviewing copyright laws and the effect of rapid changes in technology on them.

"The Attorney General is getting legal advice, in terms of where we can go from here," he said.

He acknowledged it was a complex situation because changes in technology were occurring so fast, there was a risk of new laws being soon overridden.

The Australian Football League (AFL) filed a notice of appeal in the Optus case on Friday and a hearing has been set down for April 18.

Telstra has the exclusive online broadcast rights for both AFL and NRL matches.

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