Copyright Inquiry e-news | Draft Terms of Reference

Issue 1 | 30 March 2012  View original format

A-G releases draft Terms of Reference for public comment

The Attorney-General today released for public comment draft terms of reference (TOR) for the ALRC inquiry into the operation of copyright exceptions in the digital environment.

From the Attorney-General’s media release:
 

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the ALRC will consider whether the exceptions in the Federal Copyright Act are adequate and appropriate in the digital environment.
 
“The draft terms of reference reflect the fact that technology is constantly evolving and testing the boundaries of copyright law,” Ms Roxon said. 
 
“In our fast changing, technologically driven world, it is important to ensure our copyright laws are keeping pace with change and able to respond to future challenges.”
 
“We want to ensure this review has enough scope to look at the key areas of copyright so we’re calling on stakeholders to provide us with their feedback before the ALRC begins its work.”
 
The draft terms of reference ask the ALRC to examine the adequacy and appropriateness of a broad range of exceptions in the Copyright Act, including time shifting.
 
The draft terms of reference also direct the ALRC to consider whether exceptions should allow the legitimate non-commercial use of copyright works for uses on the internet such as social networking.

The Government has appointed Professor Jill McKeough, University of Technology Sydney Dean of Law, to the ALRC as a Commissioner to lead the copyright inquiry.
 
“As Australia’s foremost law reform institution, the ALRC is well suited to undertake this important work to ensure that the Copyright Act continues to be effective in the 21st century,” Ms Roxon said.

 

See Draft Terms of Reference for ALRC – Copyright – [PDF 11KB].
 
Submissions and comments on the draft TOR should be directed to the Attorney-General’s Department (not the ALRC), by 27 April 2012.