VIEW BLOGS The Department of Communications and the Arts’ current consultation on ‘updating Australia’s copyright laws’ is closing shortly (12 February 2016).
The consultation is considering the so-called ‘legitimate’ use of copyright material by libraries and educational institutions, which are said to be facing difficulties due to ‘outdated, prescriptive and overly complex legislation’. The particular complexity of this area of copyright law is demonstrated by the wealth and length of the free resources available from the Department of Education.
Comments are sought on the current exposure draft of 22 December 2015 which, among other things, attempts to streamline the educational statutory licence provisions as well as introducing ‘safe harbour’ protection in the area of online copyright infringement.