E-News on Copyright
For over 10 years the Attorney-General’s Department produced e-News on Copyright (an electronic newsletter distributed by email and published on this website) providing updates about Australian copyright law and policy, relevant reviews, and information about international meetings including free trade agreement negotiations and meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The newsletter also notified readers of opportunities to participate in reviews and to provide input and feedback.
Although the Attorney-General’s Department is no longer producing e-News on Copyright, past issues of the newsletter have been archived here to keep a record of the copyright news reported by the Department, and to assist users of this website who may wish to trace the development of government copyright policies.
The index below lists the topics that were reported on from May 1998 to July 2009, and links to HTML versions of those newsletters. Material archived here may differ slightly from the newsletters as published, as out-of-date links and contact details have been removed.
Note: Please also be aware that each issue of e-News on Copyright contains information available at the time of its publication. For example, ‘Number 1, May 1998’ contains information that was current as of May 1998. Subsequent developments are reported in later issues. In a number of cases, the names of government departments and line areas referred to in the newsletters have also changed since the date of original publication. Please bear this in mind when using this archive of past issues.
- e-News on Copyright 2009
- e-News on Copyright 2008
- e-News on Copyright 2007
- e-News on Copyright 2006
- e-News on Copyright 2005
- e-News on Copyright 2004
- e-News on Copyright 2003
- e-News on Copyright 2002
- e-News on Copyright 2001
- e-News on Copyright 2000
- e-News on Copyright 1999
- e-News on Copyright 1998
2009
WIPO Director General to visit Australia; Appointment of Justice Nye Perram to the Copyright Tribunal of Australia; The Attorney-General's Copyright Consultation Stakeholder Forum 2009; Attorney-General opens Copyright Future: Copyright Freedom Conference; WIPO Meeting of Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights; Parallel Importation of Books Review – Release of draft report by the Productivity Commission; Singapore to host APEC Trading Ideas 2009; APEC Workshop on Conducting Effective Intellectual Property Public Education and Awareness for Small and Medium Enterprises; IP Australia Public Consultations on Intellectual Property Rights Reforms; The Copyright Advisory Group Smartcopying Website; IP Australia factsheet on the Crown Use of Intellectual Property; Update on Australian Trade Agreement Negotiations.
2008
Launch of the study on the Economic Impact of Copyright; Productivity Commission Review of Parallel Importation of Books; Resale Royalty Scheme - Legislation introduced into Parliament; Crime Stoppers Australia and the Attorney-General's Department help; Australian Institute of Criminology report on Counterfeiting and Piracy; Australian Customs Service's consultation paper on intellectual property border enforcement proposals; Tabling Screenrights and Copyright Agency Limited Annual Reports; Release of the Report on the Review of the National Innovation System; The Gershon Review - Review of the Government's intellectual property policy; Introduction of Personal Properties Securities Law and work of UNCITRAL; Release of electronic commerce discussion paper; New WIPO Director General - Dr Francis Gurry; WIPO - Meeting of Standing Committee on Copyright and Related rights; WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore; Update on Australian Trade Agreement Negotiations
Release of Review of Exceptions for Private Copying of Photographs and Films; Australian-Chile Free Trade Agreement: agreed text negotiated; Personal Properties Securities Bill 2008; WIPO Director – Nomination of Dr Francis Gurry; Productivity Commission Review of Parallel Importation of Books; Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement; Circuit Layouts – Updating countries receiving protection; Update on Australian Free Trade Agreement Negotiations.
Review of new format shifting exceptions; Guidelines for bodies seeking prescription as a key cultural institution now available; Copyright infringement notice guidelines; Update on Australian Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
2007
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum - Intellectual Property; Intellectual Property Enforcement Workshop, August 2007; Draft Infringement Notice Guidelines; Update on Australian Free Trade Agreement negotiations; New Copyright Tribunal appointments; WIPO Internet treaties come into force in Australia.
Accession to WIPO Internet Treaties; Increased funding for IP enforcement; Management of IP by Australian Government agencies; Copyright Act 1968 – Reprint 12 – hard copy now available.
Copyright Amendment Act 2006; Fact sheets; APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts’ Group (IPEG) meeting; APEC International Intellectual Property Symposium ‘Trading Ideas – the Future of IP in Asia-Pacific’; WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights – special session on broadcasters rights;Australian Centre for Intellectual Property in Agriculture (ACIPA) 12th Annual Copyright Conference – Copyright from ‘the Da Vinci Code’ to YouTube; Tabling of the CAL 2005 – 06 Annual Report and audited accounts.
2006
Copyright Amendment Bill 2006; ACCC copyright guidelines released for comment; APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group (IPEG) Meeting; APEC International Intellectual Property Symposium 'Trading Ideas - the Future of IP in Asia Pacific’; Screenrights Annual Report.
Issue 43 - October 2006 - Special edition
Copyright Amendment Bill 2006.
Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 – amendments to the jurisdiction of the Copyright Tribunal – exposure draft and explanatory material; WIPO: Proposed Broadcasters’ rights treaty.
Copyright Amendment Bill 2006; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Intellectual Property Symposium – January 2007; Australian Institute of Criminology Research Project on Intellectual Property Crime; Free Trade Agreement Negotiations; Visit to Australia by the National Copyright Administration of China.
This e-news provides an update on the progress of implementation of the technological protection measures (TPM) obligation in Article 17.4.7 of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). Australia has until 1 January 2007 to implement this obligation.
Major Reforms to Australia’s Copyright Regime; a. Fair Use Review; b. Changes to legislative cap on broadcast licence fees; c. Copyright Tribunal: Jurisdiction and Procedures; d. Government’s response to Digital Agenda Review; e. New copyright enforcement measures; Government’s decision not to introduce a resale royalty scheme; Free Trade Agreement negotiations; Whole of Government approach to intellectual property management; World Intellectual property Organisation Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore; World Intellectual Property Organisation Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights.
2005
Copyright Amendment (Film Directors’ Rights) Act 2005; Free Trade Agreements; 13th session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights; Attorney-General opens the Copyright Law and Practice Symposium; Tabling of collecting societies’ annual reports in Parliament.
This e-news provides an update on the progress of implementation of the technological protection measures (TPM) obligation in Article 17.4.7 of the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). Australia has until 1 January 2007 to implement this obligation.
Review of unauthorised access to and use of subscription broadcasts; Government examines 'fair use' of copyright material; Copyright Law Review Committee report on Crown Copyright; Visit of WIPO Deputy Director General; WIPO broadcasters’ rights treaty; WIPO launches opportunity for stakeholders to participate in IP Policy debate; Copyright Law Branch booklet, Copyright Law in Australia: A Short Guide.
Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement - changes to Australian copyright law; Review of cap on royalties paid by radio broadcasters to copyright owners; Copyright Amendment Regulations 2005; Copyright Amendment (Film Directors’ Rights) Bill 2005; Attorney-General opens the Australian Centre for Intellectual Property and Agricultural Conference, ‘Copyright: New Futures, New Agenda’; Working Paper: Proposed Hague Convention on Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements; Management and Administration of Commonwealth Copyright.
2004
Copyright responsibility under the Administrative Arrangements Order 26 October 2004; Relocation of the Copyright Law Branch within the Attorney-General’s Department; Government copyright priorities under "Strengthening Australian Arts"; Exchange of letters fixing entry into force of the AUSFTA; Commencement of US Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 2004 (Cth); Copyright Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (Cth); Copyright Amendment Regulations 2004; World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, Geneva, 1-5 November 2004; WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, Geneva, 17-19 November 2004; IP Academy of Singapore seminar "The case for and against database rights", 22 November 2004; Copyright Law Review Committee inquiry on Crown Copyright granted an extension until 4 March 2005; Tabling in Parliament of the 2003-2004 Screenrights and Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) annual reports.
Introduction of the US Free Trade Agreement Implementation Bill 2004; Tabling in Parliament of WIPO Copyright Treaties; Re-appointments to the Copyright Tribunal; Update: Review of Digital Agenda Reforms; Copyright Law Review Committee Public Forum on Crown Copyright; WIPO update: Meeting of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights 7-9 June 2004; Resale Royalty Scheme - discussion paper; New Designs Law comes into force; Attorney-General opens Cinema Owners Conference.
POLICY UPDATE; Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement: agreed text negotiated; Copyright Law Review Committee (CLRC) publishes Crown Copyright Issues Paper; Attorney-General opens ACIPA Copyright Conference, Brisbane, 13 February 2004; Update: Review of Digital Agenda Reforms; LEGISLATIVE UPDATE; Amendments to the Copyright (International Protection) Regulations 1969 and Circuit Layouts Regulations 1989; Update: Indigenous Communal Moral Rights Bill; CASE LAW UPDATE; Recording Industry Association of America v Verizon Internet Services 351 F.3d 1229.
2003
POLICY UPDATE; Attorney-General announces a new reference to the Copyright Law Review Committee (CLRC); Senate passes Designs Bills; Update: Review of Digital Agenda Reforms; Update: Free Trade Agreement negotiations; WIPO NEWS; Update: meeting of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCRR), 3-5 November 2003; Attorney-General's Department (AGD) hosts visit by Mr Geoffrey Yu, Deputy Director General, WIPO; STAFF UPDATE.
POLICY UPDATE; Update: Review of Digital Agenda reforms; Free Trade Agreement negotiations; Government response to Copycats report; CASE LAW UPDATE; High Court hears arguments in the Panel Case; High Court refuses leave to appeal in Telstra v Desktop Marketing; Kabushiki Kaisha Sony Computer Entertainment v Stevens; Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd v ACCC; Links to other recent cases; WIPO NEWS; Update: IGC on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore; Other meetings; STAFF UPDATE.
POLICY UPDATE; Free Trade Negotiations; Commonwealth arrangements for use of Copyright material; Update: Review of Copyright Digital Agenda Reforms; LEGISLATIVE UPDATE; Copyright Amendment (Indigenous Communal Moral Rights) Bill 2003; CASE LAW UPDATE; High Court grants leave to appeal in the Panel Case; Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) Limited v University of Tasmania [2003] FCA 532; Sullivan v FNH Investments Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 323; Sky Channel Pty Ltd v Yahmoc Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 401; BBC World Ltd v Special Broadcasting Service Corp [2003] FCA 247; Re Reference by Powercom Interactive Media Pty Ltd [2003] ACopyT 1; TS & B Retail Systems Pty Ltd v 3fold Resources [2003] FCA 371; Seminars and Meetings; Recent Seminar on Developments in the European Union; WIPO.
POLICY UPDATE; Digital Agenda Review; Australia-United States Free Trade Negotiations; WIPO Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on the Protection and Enforcement of Copyright and Related Rights; APEC Intellectual Property Experts Group (IPEG); LEGISLATIVE UPDATE; Copyright Amendment (Parallel Importation) Bill 2002; Designs Bills; New Rights legislation; CASE LAW UPDATE; Kabushiki Kaisha Sony Computer Entertainment v Stevens [2002] FCA 906; Eldred v Ashcroft 123 S.Ct. 769; Links to recent cases; UPDATE ON GOVERNMENT REPORTS; The report of The Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry; Cracking down on copycats: enforcement of copyright in Australia; CLRC report on Simplification of the Copyright Act 1968, Part 1 and 2; CLRC report on the Jurisdiction and Procedures of the Copyright Tribunal; STAFF UPDATE.
2002
Copyright Amendment (Parallel Importation) Bill 2002; New Designs Bills; Collecting Societies' Voluntary Code of Conduct finalised and code reviewer appointed; WIPO SCCRR, Geneva, 4-8 November, 2002; Discussions held on CLRC Copyright and Contract report; Update on Government's Review of the Digital Agenda Amendments; IP Enforcement Consultative Group; Commonwealth Arrangements for Use of Copyright Materials; Staff changes within the Copyright Law Branch.
Release of CLRC Report: Copyright and Contract; Visiting Canadian Professor: Round-table with Prof. Ysolde Gendreau; AGD hosts Chinese copyright delegation visit; WIPO General Assembly meetings, Geneva, 23 September - 1 October 2002; WIPO SCCR 8th Session, and special session on technical matters.
Government's Review of Digital Agenda Amendments; HREOC Forum on Accessibility; Legislative Bills Update; Meeting of the Working Group for Legal Experts on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture, Noumea; WIPO IGC on Genetic Resources, TK and Folklore; WIPO SCCR 7th Session; Cases: Full Federal Court decisions in Desktop v Telstra; Channel 9 v Channel 10.
Parallel importation of books and software; Copyright Collecting Societies' Voluntary Code of Conduct; Commencement of WIPO Internet treaties; CLRC Report soon to be presented; Government/ Industry Consultative Group Meeting; Case - Copyright Agency Limited v Queensland Department of Education and Others; Recent Seminars - Digital Agenda Amendments; WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCRR); World Intellectual Property Day - 26 April 2002.
2001
Issue 23 - December 2001
Post-Election Update - Government Policies; WIPO Copyright Treaty Receives 30th Signature - Soon to Enter into Force; Report from the 6th WIPO SCCRR – Progress on Possible Broadcasters Treaty; WIPO IGC Meeting - IP and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore; Update on Collecting Societies Draft Code of Conduct; Update on CLRC Inquiry into Copyright and Contract; New AGD Intellectual Property Branch Web Site; Cases of note: AVRA v Warner Home Videos; ABC v Lenah Game Meats; Universal City Studios v Corley; and cases on appeal to the Full Federal Court.
Issue 22 - August 2001
Announcement of Government Response to IP and Competition Review Report; Collecting Societies Draft Code of Conduct and Forum; Update: Proposed Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil Matters; Update: CLRC Inquiry into Copyright and Contract; APEC: IP Experts Group Meeting, Chinese Taipei; Review of the Commerce (Trade Descriptions) Act 1905.
Issue 21 - June 2001
CLRC Issues Paper on Copyright and Contract released; APEC: IP Symposium and Experts Group Meeting, Chinese Taipei; Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements - Diplomatic Conference; Copyright held to subsist in telephone directories; Legislation Update: Copyright Amendment (Parallel Importation) Bill 2001; WIPO: meeting of WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, 7-11 May 2001; WIPO: meeting of Intergovernmental Committee on IP and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, 30 April – 3 May 2001.
Issue 20 - April 2001
Inaugural World Intellectual Property Day: message from WIPO; Digital Agenda: amendments commenced on 4 March 2001; Digital Agenda: copyright and e-mail; Digital Agenda: DVD and games console mod-chips; Criminal Remedies: Criminal Code applied to copyright offences; Collecting Socities: Screenrights appointed as Part VC interim notice holder; Regulations: amendments made to the Copyright (International Protection) Regulations 1969; Copyright Law Review Committee: inquiry into relationship between copyright and contract law commences; Copyright Tribunal: new appointments; WIPO Issues: meetings of interest; APEC Issues: IP experts group meets in Sydney.
Issue 19 - February 2001
Digital Agenda: new regulations mark the final stage of the digital agenda reforms; Moral Rights: new regulations to protect the moral rights of creators; Adelaide Digital Agenda Seminar: 26 February 2001; Copyright Law Review Committee: forthcoming release of final report on Jurisdiction and Procedures of the Copyright Tribunal; Collecting Societies: applications received for declaration as a Collecting Society under Part VC of the Copyright Act 1968.
2000
Issue 18 - December 2000
Moral Rights: new legislation to protect the moral rights of creators; Intellectual Property and Competition Review Committee: release of final report; Copyright Enforcement: tabling of report by House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs; Collecting Societies: call for applications for declaration as a Collecting Society under Part VC of the Copyright Act 1968; WIPO Diplomatic Conference: negotiations on a new treaty on the rights of performers; Regulations: development of amendments.
Issue 17 - October 2000
Digital Agenda Seminars: Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; Term of Protection for Photographs: Call for submissions; Film Directors' Copyright: Submissions close end October; Performers' Draft Treaty: WIPO releases clauses; Regional Issues: Indonesia Australia Training; Parallel Importation: Information sheets available.
Issue 16 - September 2000
Film Directors' Copyright: Call for submissions; Copyright Tribunal: Appointment of new President; Innovation Summit: Final report released; WIPO Sub-Regional Seminar on Copyright: Apia, Samoa; Thai Judicial Training: Papers published; Legislation Update: Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Bill 1999; Digital Agenda Reforms: Information sheet; WIPO Papers of Possible Interest.
Issue 15 - August 2000
Digital Agenda Bill Passes Through Parliament: Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill 2000; Performers' Draft Treaty Developments: WIPO releases basic proposal for Diplomatic Conference; Indigenous IP: WIPO seeks comments on draft report; WTO Trips Agreement: TRIPS booklet and newsletter; Legislation Update: Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Bill 1999.
Issue 14 - June 2000
Parallel Importation: Government announces freeing of parallel importation restrictions; WTO Panel Report - EC/US Copyright Dispute - "Homestyle" decision handed down; Visiting Official - Canadian Copyright Board official visits AGD; Legislation Update: Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Bill 1999.
Issue 13 - May 2000
WIPO Treaty Developments for Performers - Diplomatic conference on performers' rights announced; WIPO/IP Australia Regional Symposium - visit to Australia by Director-General of WIPO; APEC Intellectual Property Experts Group - Regional IP issues considered; Competition Review of Intellectual Property Legislation - Interim report and public consultations; Legislation Updates: Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill 1999 and Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Bill 1999; Copyright Law Review Committee - Report on the jurisdiction and procedures of the Copyright Tribunal; House of Representatives Inquiry into the Enforcement of Copyright in Australia - Committee expected to report in second half of 2000.
Issue 12 - February 2000
Cybersquatting - NOIE and IP Australia hold international workshop; National Innovation Summit - call for discussion to improve role of IP in strengthening innovation; Regional Intellectual Property Symposium - IP Australia and WIPO jointly host international forum.
1999
Issue 11 - December 1999
Legislation update: Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Bill 1999; Electronic Transactions Bill 1999; Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill 1999; Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill (No 1) 1999; Copyright Amendment Act (No.1) 1998, Schedule 2 - Labelling and packaging etc. of imported goods; WIPO - meeting of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCRR).
Issue 10 - November 1999
Legislation update: Copyright Amendment (Computer Programs) Act 1999; Copyright Amendment Act (No.1) 1998, Schedule 2 - Labelling and packaging etc. of imported goods; Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill 1999; Copyright Amendment (Importation of Sound Recordings) Bill 1999; Electronic Transactions Bill 1999; Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill (No 1) 1999; Parliamentary inquiry into enforcement of copyright - report expected in early 2000; Competition review of intellectual property legislation - public hearings under way; Copyright Law and Practice Symposium - Attorney-General committed to copyright reform; WIPO - the Attorney-General addresses the WIPO conference in Geneva; WTO EU-US copyright dispute - Section 110(5) of the United States Copyright Act: is it TRIPS consistent?; Data Access Corp. v. Powerflex Services - AGS casenote.
Issue 9 - September 1999
Legislation update: Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill 1999; Copyright Amendment (Computer Programs) Act 1999; Copyright Amendment (Importation of Sound Recordings ) Bill 1999; Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill (No 1) 1999.
Issue 8 - July 1999
Legislation update - Copyright Amendment (Computer Programs) Bill 1999; Copyright Amendment (Importation of Sound Recordings ) Bill 1999; draft Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill; Electronic Transactions Bill 1999; Broadcasting Services Bill (No 1) 1999; Competition review of IP legislation - up and running; Copyright Law Review Committee - reference on the Copyright Tribunal; Parliamentary Inquiry into enforcement of copyright; WIPO meetings concerning copyright and related rights; Bilateral and regional matters - Training of Thai IP judges; APEC IPR International Symposium and APEC IPEG meetings; Australian Competition Tribunal Determination on APRA's use of blanket licences.
Issue 7 - April 1999
Introduction of computer software legislation; Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Bill 1999; Copyright Law Review Committee: New reference on the Copyright Tribunal; Parliamentary Inquiry into the enforcement of copyright in Australia; Release of Part II of the Copyright Law Review Committee Report - Simplification of the Copyright Act; Copyright Tribunal Decision - Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) v University of Adelaide & others.
Issue 6 - February 1999
The release of the exposure draft Digital Agenda Bill for comment; Government's decision on copyright changes to help Australian software industry; Copyright/designs overlap; Indigenous Copyright Conference.
1998
Issue 5 - December 1998
Changed responsibilities in the Intellectual Property Branch; WIPO SCCRR November 1998 meeting; Amendments to the Copyright Regulations and Circuit Layouts Regulations; Digital Agenda Exposure Draft Bill; Release of Senate Report - Retransmission; Attorney-General makes Speech to the AIIA.
Issue 4 - October 1998
Copyright stays in the Attorney-General's Department; Update on Government's copyright reform initiatives; Digital Agenda exposure draft Bill; Moral rights; Copyright Law Review Committee report on exceptions released; Enforcement of copyright; Competition review of the Copyright Act; Consideration of Australia's accession to WIPO "Internet treaties"; WIPO workshop in Shanghai on the WIPO "Internet treaties".
Issue 3 - August 1998
Copyright Amendment Acts (No 1 And No 2) 1998 commence; IP Laws Amendment Act 1998 commences; Moral rights consultation forum; Government releases strategy for the information economy; CLRC report on exceptions completed; Don't Stop the Music Report tabled by Parliamentary Committee; AG speaks about digital agenda copyright reforms; Terms for past reproductions of Aboriginal flag settled; Study tour on copyright for Chinese delegates; WIPO meets on audiovisual performers' rights; WIPO to meet on databases and audiovisual performers' rights; Submissions on Performers' Rights Discussion Paper; APEC IP Experts Group meets.
Issue 2 - July 1998
Two Copyright Bills passed; Copyright Amendment Bill 1997; Employed journalists' copyright; Parallel importation of packaging and labelling; Other reforms; Update on moral rights; New CDs law - Copyright Amendment Bill (No 2) 1997; Changes to Copyright Act re patent attorneys.
Issue 1 - May 1998
Progress on Copyright Amendment Bill 1997; Digital Agenda copyright reforms; Lower CD prices; Retransmission of free-to-air broadcasts; Appointments to the Copyright Tribunal; Discussion Paper on proposed new performers' rights; APEC IP Experts Group meeting, Canberra 1998; WTO TRIPS workshops for LDCs - speech by AG.