News coming out of the Attorney General’s office is outlining proposed amendments to Australian copyright law. This is not unusual in itself, what is unusual is that the proposed changes are actually sensible and beneficial to both individuals and libraries!

You can read about the details at in the Attorney General’s media release “Major Copyright Reforms strike balance” and ALIA’s “Libraries to benefit from upcoming copyright reform“.

In quick summary, here are some of the proposed changes:

  • Format shifting will be allowable by law, if shifted from a legally owned copy – eg. you can rip a copy of a CD you own so that you can download it onto your MP3
  • Individuals will legally be allowed to record TV and radio programs for later playback (once only of course) – something that millions of Australians have been doing illegally for years of course
  • Educational, libraries and cultural institutions will be allowed to use copyright material for non-commercial purposes (yay for our promotional activities etc)
  • Provides new exceptions for people with disabilities

Other exceptions and new security measures, as well as reforms to bring Australia in line with US copyright law as regards to the USA-Australia Free Trade Agreement are also expected in the draft Bill.

If all goes through as expected, this means exciting possibilities for libraries and a move towards more logical copyright law in Australia. A logical law is quite amazing in itself – one that benefits both the public and libraries is awe-inspiring.

Having said that however, we are all waiting on the content of the draft bill before celebrating. If it provides the content as promised by the Attorney General and makes it through the Houses of Parliament, we will indeed be celebrating.

Thanks to Blisspix for bringing this to my attention.