Fair use (copyright)

Article by Jessica Coates, Australia Libraries Copyright Committee, from INCITE January/February 2019 Volume 40 Issue 1/2 - State of Australian Libraries.

2018 was a big year for copyright in Australia. It saw the start of several major changes that directly affect libraries, including improved provisions for providing access to people with a disability; simplified educational statutory licences; and a ‘fixed’ preservation exception.

Australian Libraries Copyright Committee (ALCC) and the Australian Digital Alliance (ADA) joint submission on the Copyright Regulations 2017 responds to questions set out in the consultation paper and provides additional suggestions for small changes to the regulations. Issues raised relate to unpublished works, the safe harbour scheme, technological protection measures (TPM), fair dealings for students and researchers, regulations governing photocopier notices, and document delivery and interlibrary loan provisions.

This submission from the Australian Libraries Copyright Committee (ALCC) to the Copyright Modernisation Review consultation supports the government's goal to modernise Australian copyright law to enable fair use of material by libraries and archives.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) recognises that the copyright and intellectual property system must ensure a fair and equitable balance between the rights of creators, owners and users, and the advancement and sharing of knowledge, to encourage creativity, innovation, research, education and learning.