Copyright Amendment Act 2006
The Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 was passed by both houses of Parliament on 5 December 2006. The Bill received Royal Assent on 11 December 2006. All amendments are now in effect. The reforms strengthen owners’ rights and provide more certainty for users in the digital environment. New exceptions allow consumers to enjoy legitimate copyright material in some circumstances without breaching the law. New and innovative exceptions allow for the use of copyright material for socially useful purposes, such as use by educational institutions and people with disability. The laws also ensure that copyright owners can better protect their legitimate rights and securely make their material available online in new and different ways, for example through the use of technological protection measures. New enforcement measures, including on-the-spot fines and proceeds of crime remedies, target copyright piracy.
The Copyright Amendment Act 2006 and a consolidated version of the Copyright Act 1968 are now available on the ComLaw website. A consolidated hard copy reprint of the Copyright Act is likely to be available by mid-2007.
The Bill as introduced, the Government amendments made in the Senate and the Explanatory Memorandum are available on the Parliament House website.
After its introduction the Bill was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for consideration. The Committee tabled their report on the Bill on 13 November 2006.
- Responses to frequently asked questions about the new laws are available.
- Fact sheets on the amendments are also available.