Have your say on draft copyright reform legislation

The Morrison Government is seeking feedback on draft copyright reform legislation, released today, which includes changes to better support the needs of Australians to access content in a digital environment.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the reforms follow extensive industry consultation.

“The copyright reforms will help the cultural, education, research and government sectors to provide services in a digital environment and enhance access to the wider community,” Minister Fletcher said.

“Australia’s copyright system underpins our creative economy and these reforms seek to provide clear and reasonable access to copyright materials, while maintaining the incentives and protections for content creators.”

The reforms will set up a scheme to allow the use of “orphaned” material if the copyright owner cannot be found; introduce a fair dealing exception for non-commercial quotation (or if the quotation is of immaterial commercial value); simplify and update copyright exceptions for educational and cultural institutions; and streamline the government statutory licensing scheme.

Minister Fletcher said, “We encourage feedback from both individuals and organisations from, but not limited to, the creative, cultural, education, research and government sectors. It is important that we hear from a diverse group to help inform the final legislation.”

The Government is also taking this opportunity to conduct a review of the technological protection measure (TPM) exceptions in the Copyright Regulations, as required by the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, and is seeking input.

The Government announced it was moving ahead with copyright reforms in August, 2020.

Consultation on the draft copyright reform legislation and the TPM exceptions opens today and will close at 5pm (AEDT) 11 February, 2022.

For information on how to make a submission, and to view the draft legislation and Discussion Paper, please visit: https://infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/have-your-say-draft-copyright-reform-legislation