15 June 2017
The Turnbull Government has delivered important reforms that will improve access to copyright materials for Australians with a disability, as well as providing confidence to educational facilities, libraries and archives that deal with copyright materials.
The passage of the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill 2017 is another important step in bringing Australia’s copyright laws into the digital age.
These important reforms include measures which will significantly improve access to copyright materials for people with a vision, hearing or intellectual disability.
The legislation will simplify and improve copyright licensing provisions for the nation’s collecting societies and educational institutions, and allow educators to use copyright materials more easily in the digital education environment.
Libraries, archives and key cultural institutions will now have greater flexibility in preserving copyright materials and, by setting a term of protection for unpublished materials, have greater access to historic and culturally valuable materials.
The Bill demonstrates the Turnbull Government’s commitment to improving the workability of the Copyright Act while ensuring respect for the creative efforts and economic rights of creators.
The passing of this Bill was the result of extensive consultation with copyright users and rights holders.
For further information visit the Department of Communications and the Arts website at https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/copyright.