ADA Copyright Forum videos available
The Australian Digital Alliance Copyright Forum, A Fair Future for Copyright was held on Friday 17 February 2023 and focused on the work that still needs to be done a decade on from the ALRC Copyright and the Digital Economy report to ensure fair and flexible copyright exceptions that support creativity, innovation, and research in Australia.
Keynote speakers, Professor Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow, discussed the central themes of their new book, Chokepoint Capitalism. Giblin and Doctorow expose the exploitative and anti-competitive business tactics that are squeezing creative workers of their value while locking in their audiences and communities. They went on to explore how libraries and audiences can play a role in helping creators receive a fairer share of profits from intermediaries.
Following the keynote speech, several panel discussions took place, delving into key considerations for copyright reform. Michael Wolfe, Prof Ellie Rennie, and Dr Rita Matulionyte examined the impact of emerging technologies on copyright, including controlled digital lending (CDL) and artificial intelligence (AI). Speakers Anika Valenti, Professor Kirsten Thorpe, and Rose Barrowcliffe discussed Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) protocols and ways for collecting institutions to manage and provide access to First Nations material in appropriate ways. The final panel explored ways to improve the copyright system. Daniel Gilbert and Dr Joshua Yuvaraj presented their research on rights reversion and public lending rights. All of the event’s videos, as well as satellite webinars, are now available on the website or the ADA’s YouTube channel.
The forum provided an excellent opportunity for our members and other attendees to learn about the latest developments in copyright law and policy, as well as engage in discussions with experts from various fields. The speakers and panellists provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing copyright law in Australia and stimulated thought-provoking discussions among attendees.
Satellite events
In the lead up to the forum we held three webinars that focused on open access, open GLAM collections and fair dealing exceptions. Speakers included Dr Ginny Barbour, Emeritus Professor Tom Cochrane, Douglas McCarthy, Dr Andrea Wallace, Professor Emily Hudson. These videos are also available on the website and our YouTube channel.
Copyright Reform update
February was a busy month for copyright reform. ADA welcomed the National Cultural Policy, Revive, which set out the government’s commitment for further discussions of protection for Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property and extending the Public and Educational Lending Right Schemes to digital content. The ADA also submitted to the government a joint submission with the ALACC on the recent Copyright Enforcement Review.
And in late February the ADA and sister organisation Australian Libraries and Archives Copyright Coalition (ALACC) were invited to partake in an inaugural ministerial roundtable in Melbourne chaired by the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP. Over 30 organisations from a range of sectors were brought together to identify reform priorities and emerging copyright issues. Throughout this year further roundtables will be held to develop copyright reform proposals with broad consensus from stakeholders. These proposals will then be shared with the government for their consideration.
The top five priority areas that are up for discussion this year will include: orphan works, a fair dealing exception for quotation, remote learning, artificial intelligence and a review of the definition of broadcast. We welcome these roundtables and will provide updates on these reform discussions throughout the year to members.