Australia’s copyright laws are likely to be reformed in coming weeks, after the Federal Cabinet considers a joint submission from the Attorney General Daryl Williams and the Minister for Communications, Arts and the Information Economy, Senator Richard Alston. Likely reforms will seek to address coverage gaps in the Copyright Act of 1968, relating to the broadcast of material using technologies such as cable and the internet. Currently, the Act provides no protection of copyright when material is transmitted via either of these methods. Sound recordings are not protected unless transmitted as wireless broadcasts. In a discussion paper released by the Departments of the Attorney General and Communications and Arts last August, the Government recommended a technology-neutral transmission right which would protect the owners of copyright in the new technological environment. It also supported the idea of broadening the definition of broadcasting to include wired means. Producers of sound recordings would be able to claim remuneration under the new definition. This discussion paper – Copyright Reform and the Digital Agenda – will form the core of the Cabinet submission. Precise details of the Cabinet submission are not known but if the August discussion paper’s key recommendations get up, Australian copyright law will become compliant with the relevant World Intellectual Property Organization treaties. Senator Alston’s media office declined to confirm or deny a press report that the cabinet had listed the joint submission for discussion at its meeting on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the office did confirm that a copyright policy announcement could be expected in the next month.
