Dear Aussie mailing lists, I'm forwarding below the email from the Australian Law Reform Commission ( ALRC) - Copyright Review. The announcement today is that after several months of reading the initial submissions, they are now releasing their discussion paper on what ideas they're thinking of reforming in the Australian copyright system.
I think it's EXTREMELY interesting that the ALRC is recommending that Australia drop lots of specific exceptions that have built up over the years and replace it with a broad, flexible, "fair use" principle that is effectively parallel to what the US has. This would be a MAJOR shift in our copyright system, one that gave SIGNIFICANTLY more flexibility and power for the end-users. I think you can get an indication of how upsetting to the existing copyright industry this change would be given they've *already* gone on record to say that "fair use is unfair" http://au.artshub.com/au/newsprint.aspx?listingId=195592 I made a submission to the review at the round-1 stage, but since then I've taken up a position in the Australian Public Service working for the National Library (which would be directly affected by this policy change). As such, it wouldn't be proper for me to personally be involved making another submission. I can only say that the ALRC's recommendation WILL be aggressively fought by the copyright industry. If the recommendations are going to be adopted (which would be after the next federal election) there would need to be an equally strong argument made of the *economic value* that more flexible copyright exceptions would bring to Australia. These changes wouldn't make a lot of difference to Wikimedia projects directly, it's true, but Wikimedians are very well knowledgeable in the specific flexibility that fair-use can bring compared to the current, much more stringent exceptions we currently have such as "research and study", "parody and satire" and the Statutory License for educational copying (part VB). I would suggest that Wikimedia Australia solicit the views of its members and local Wikimedians and, having come to a consensus, make its own submission or, more simply, co-sign a submission from another like-minded organisation. You have 2 months to do this. Sincerely, -Liam / Wittylama ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: ALRC <w...@alrc.gov.au> Date: 5 June 2013 05:07 Subject: Copyright e-news | Discussion Paper released! To: Liam <liamwy...@gmail.com> ** [image: ALRC Copyright Inquiry e-news]<http://alrc.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=9bf85dfcb8&e=10eaeeb611> 5 June 2013 It's here! Discussion Paper now available The *Copyright and the Digital Economy* Discussion Paper is now available, marking the second phase of broad public consultation for this Inquiry. The Discussion Paper contains 42 questions and proposals regarding reform of the *Copyright Act*, including the introduction of a broad, flexible exception for fair use of copyright material and the consequent repeal of many of the current exceptions, with a view to making Australia’s copyright regime more flexible and adaptable. The Discussion Paper is available on the ALRC website in html and PDF, and also as an ebook. See *media release*<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=7978fa0804&e=10eaeeb611>>> See *Discussion Paper*<http://alrc.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=4f701ab4c6&e=10eaeeb611>>> Make a submission We strongly encourage individuals and organisations to make submissions in response to this Discussion Paper and, in so doing, contribute to the law reform process. These submissions are crucial in helping us develop final recommendations. It is helpful if comments address specific questions or proposals in the Discussion Paper. The closing date for submissions is *Wednesday 31 July 2013*. An online submission form will be available at the ALRC website in a week or so. We prefer to receive submissions via the online form, but also accept submissions by post and email, preferably in Word format. Find out more about *making a submission.*<http://alrc.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=790ff650f5&e=10eaeeb611> Connect [image: email]Follow us on Twitter<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=0890b74a20&e=10eaeeb611> [image: email]Find us on Facebook<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=ebfb9afd15&e=10eaeeb611> [image: send to friend] Forward to a friend<http://us1.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=b07c5b1419&e=10eaeeb611> Dates 29 June 2012 Terms of Reference received 20 August Issues Paper & call for subs 16 November Closing date for submissions 5 June Discussion Paper & call for subs 31 July Closing date for submissions 30 Nov 2013 Final Report delivered to Attorney-General Links - Terms of Reference<http://alrc.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=c617207166&e=10eaeeb611> - Issues Paper<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=dc560b4ad7&e=10eaeeb611> - Submission<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=b07d5ef8d1&e=10eaeeb611> s<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=524614505e&e=10eaeeb611> - Discussion Paper<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=43ac7a7214&e=10eaeeb611> Banner image adapted from a photo by Horia Varlan<http://alrc.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=c837fb89d8&e=10eaeeb611> . ALRC home page<http://alrc.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=985b6df728&e=10eaeeb611>| Feedback <w...@alrc.gov.au> | Subscribe<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=599dc38494> Sent to liamwy...@gmail.com — *why did I get this?*<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/about?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=599dc38494&e=10eaeeb611&c=b07c5b1419> unsubscribe from this list<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=599dc38494&e=10eaeeb611&c=b07c5b1419>| update subscription preferences<http://alrc.us1.list-manage.com/profile?u=0ac682945224f85fa1d89d148&id=599dc38494&e=10eaeeb611> Australian Law Reform Commission · GPO Box 3708 · SYDNEY, NSW 2001
_______________________________________________ Wikimediaau-l mailing list Wikimediaau-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaau-l
