Digital Technology and the Copyright Act 1994
A review of the implications of digital technology for the Copyright Act 1994 was initiated by the release of the discussion document on 10 July 2001. Following an analysis of submissions received on this, a position paper outlining the government's preferred policy response on each of the issues raised in the discussion document was released on 10 December 2002.
The Government undertook a review of the implications of digital technology for the Copyright Act 1994 which resulted in the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act [link to Parliament website]. The Bill passed its third reading on 15 April 2008. The Bill will update and clarify how copyright applies to new technologies in today's digital environment, and promote a modern legal framework that guides the protection and use of copyright material while maintaining the balance between protection, access and use already established in the Act. The Parliamentary debates, the submissions to select committee, and the select committee's report can be viewed at Copyright (New Technologies and Performers' Rights) Amendment Bill [link to Parliament website].
Prior to the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act coming into force, two sets of regulations must be made in relation to prescribed forms for ISPs and TPMs. We anticipate the Act will therefore come into force in October 2008.
Below are the main documents that have been released during the course of the review.
Documents
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