Government Announces Copyright Reforms

by Creative Content Australia — September 1, 2020

The Australian Government recently announced plans to make copyright reforms with the changes to focus on supporting access to content in an increasingly digital environment.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said “The need for change has been further highlighted during COVID-19, with schools, universities, cultural institutions and governments moving services online.”

The proposed reforms will include:

• a scheme to allow the use of material if the copyright owner cannot be found
• an introduction of fair dealing exception for non-commercial quotation
• simplifying and updating copyright exceptions for education and cultural institutions
• a streamlining of the government statutory licencing scheme

According to Fletcher, striking a balance between public access and content creators is key: “Australia’s copyright system underpins our creative economy and these reforms provide clear and reasonable public interest access to copyright materials, while maintaining the incentives and protections for content creators.”

The government aims to release draft legislation for public consultation later this year.

Read the full press release here.