Australian Law Reform Commission opens public consultation about copyright and the digital economy
On 20 August 2012, the Australian Law Reform Commission published an Issues Paper about copyright and the digital economy. The paper is part of an inquiry on whether exceptions and statutory licenses in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 are adequate and appropriate in the digital environment and whether further exceptions should be recommended. The paper includes a list of more than 50 questions about copyright and the digital economy.
The questions address some of the most important upcoming issues in copyright, amongst others cashing and indexing, cloud computing, social networking, data and text mining and transformative use of copyrighted materials, for example sampling, remixes and mashups. The ALRC asks if the current law impedes these developments and if the Copyright Act 1968 should be amended to provide for one or more exceptions for the use of copyrighted materials in these cases. Also, the ALRC asks if the Copyright Act 1968 should be amended to include a fair use exception. Currently, the law provides in limited 'fair dealing exceptions'. The scope of a fair use exception would be more broad and flexible.
With its questions, the ALRC aims to encourages public consultation and therefore invites individuals and organizations to make submissions in response to the questions or to any of the background material and analysis. As 85% of the ALRC's reports have been substantially or partly implemented in the national law, it's one of Australia's most effective and influential agents for legal reform. By requesting submissions to the questions and the Issues Paper, the ALRC gives the public the opportunity to influence the copyright law reform process. The closing date for submissions is 16 November 2012.
Read more about copyright in Australia on FutureOfCopyright.com:
Source: Australian Law Reform Commission
By: Marjolein van der Heide
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