COPYCENSE

“For the past 12 months, Australia has been going through a major review of its copyright law, and in particular, its exceptions to copyright infringement, with a view to ‘updating’ this material for the digital environment. I note that we are not the only ones: Canada [is] having an ongoing debate, and the UK [is] having [its] Gower Review.

“The Attorney-General has issued a press release, announcing the results of the review. … In essence, the government has decided not to adopt the US ‘fair use’ system — where a broadly worded defence must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Instead, the government will expand, and amend, existing specific exceptions in Australian law. That makes the amendments complicated, but potentially more certain.”

Weatherall’s Law: IP in the Land of Oz. No Fair Use for Australia — But Some Expanded Exceptions … May 14, 2006.

See also:

The Attorney General (Australia), Philip Ruddock, MP. Major Copyright Reforms Strike Balance. May 14, 2006.

CopyCense™: K. Matthew Dames on the law, business, and technology of digital content. A business venture of Seso Digital LLC.