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| Australian Copyright Council | |
|---|---|
| Name | Australian Copyright Council |
| Formation | 1968 |
| Type | Non-profit organisation |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Region served | Australia |
Australian Copyright Council The Australian Copyright Council is an independent non-profit organisation providing advice, information and advocacy on copyright law for creators, users and institutions across Australia. It operates as a central resource connecting stakeholders such as Creative Commons, Screen Producers Australia, Music Australia, National Library of Australia and industry bodies including ARIA and Australian Publishers Association. The Council engages with legislative processes like amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) and interacts with international frameworks including the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
The Council was established in 1968 following concerns raised by arts organisations such as the Australia Council and unions including the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance about the adequacy of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Early contributors and supporters included institutions like the State Library of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian Film Television and Radio School and universities such as the University of Sydney and the Australian National University. The Council advised on major reforms spanning the Telecommunications Act 1997 era, the digital-era revisions influenced by cases like Aston v. Virgin Records and international disputes exemplified by BMG Rights Management v. Cox Communications analogues, and submissions to parliamentary inquiries chaired by figures from the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee and the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts.
The Council is governed by a board comprising representatives from member organisations including Screen Producers Australia, Australian Writers' Guild, Music Australia, ARIA, Australian Publishers Association, and legal academics from institutions like the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales. Executive leadership has historically worked with law firms such as Allens and consultancies including KPMG for governance reviews. The organisation registers as a not-for-profit entity under Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission regulations and engages with oversight frameworks linked to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission when required.
The Council produces guidance for creators across sectors represented by bodies like the Australian Music Centre, the Australian Writers' Guild, the Independent Media Producers Australia, the Australian Publishers Association and the Screen Producers Australia. It issues plain-English explanation pieces concerning statutes including the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), court decisions from the High Court of Australia and tribunals such as the Federal Court of Australia, and developments at international bodies like the World Trade Organization. The Council collaborates with cultural institutions such as the National Library of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and broadcasters including the ABC and SBS to advise on licensing, fair dealing and digital uses.
The Council makes submissions to parliamentary inquiries conducted by committees like the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee and engages with government departments such as the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications on proposals affecting the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). It has interacted with international policy processes at the World Intellectual Property Organization and the OECD. The Council has campaigned on issues relating to orphan works in collaboration with the National Film and Sound Archive, supported creators’ rights alongside unions such as the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, and contributed to debates around safe harbour regimes promoted by industry groups like Australian Internet Industry Association.
The Council provides workshops and resources for sectors represented by organisations including the Australian Music Centre, the Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Society of Authors, the Australian Film Television and Radio School and the Australian Writers' Guild. It issues model licences and fact sheets used by universities like the University of Technology Sydney and cultural venues such as the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Sydney Opera House. Educational outreach extends to collaboration with research bodies like the Australian Research Council and sector-specific training for members of the Screen Producers Australia, Independent Media Producers Australia and community media organisations such as Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.
Funding sources have included member subscriptions from entities such as the ARIA, the Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Music Centre and cultural institutions like the National Library of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia, alongside project grants from federal agencies including the Australia Council and philanthropic support from foundations analogous to Paul Ramsay Foundation-type donors. The Council partners with legal clinics at universities including the University of New South Wales and the University of Melbourne, collaborates with industry bodies like Screen Producers Australia and Australian Interactive Media Industry Association, and works with international organisations such as Creative Commons and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The Council has faced critique from digital rights groups such as Electronic Frontiers Australia and advocacy by commentators aligned with Australian Digital Alliance over positions on digital exceptions and safe harbour provisions. Tensions have arisen with sectors including librarians represented by the Australian Library and Information Association concerning exceptions for research and preservation, and with some members of the creative industries disputing stances on licensing frameworks during debates influenced by international disputes like Google Books litigation and policy shifts observed after negotiations related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Critics have also examined funding relationships with industry organisations such as ARIA and publishers including the Australian Publishers Association as influencing policy positions.
Category:Intellectual property organizations in Australia