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'Staying download vegan': Girt by CNET podcast 54

Have the credits finally rolled on the Dallas Buyers Club piracy case? Plus, UberX gets the green light in NSW and the ATO names and shames the tech tax dodgers.

Nic Healey Senior Editor / Australia
Nic Healey is a Senior Editor with CNET, based in the Australia office. His passions include bourbon, video games and boring strangers with photos of his cat.
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Nic Healey
2 min read

Have we finally seen the end of the Dallas Buyers Club vs iiNet court case or it is doomed to rise from the grave once more in 2016? This week saw Perram J dismiss the case from the owners of Dallas Buyers Club, although there is room for one final appeal before February next year. While some will see this as a possible piracy win, the verdict actually sets a precedent again the practice of "speculative invoices" rather than giving a thumbs up to the torrent jockeys.

What did get a definitive thumbs up was UberX which got the go ahead to operate officially in NSW. Following on from Canberra a month earlier, this could be the tipping point that brings other states on board. Of course, the legislative changes aren't coming without a cost -- a literal cost in this case -- of AU$250 million in compensation to the taxi industry. Street hails and ranks remain the domain of traditional taxis.

International tech companies don't have the best reputation when it comes to paying tax in Australia, but the Australian Taxation Office's 'name and shame' list made for eye-popping reading. The cavalcade of companies jumping through loophole hoops to minimise their tax payments is confronting, but for the moment it's all legal.

Finally, with mere days until Christmas, the Girt by CNET team have some last minute gift suggestions that won't break the bank.

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