The Australian Digital Alliance Copyright Forum, Copyright Crossroads was held on 22 March and brought together speakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities brought on by rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and copyright reform issues including orphan works and the introduction of a quotation exception, and how balance in our copyright system can be achieved. The following videos are now available on our YouTube channel:
- Keynote speaker, Matthew Sag, Professor of Law and Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science at Emory University Law School. Matthew’s talk covers the global perspective of copyright and the copy-reliant nature of AI.
- Professor Kimberlee Weatherall’s talk follows Professor Matthew Sag’s keynote and offers insights on how Australia could approach AI and copyright issues.
- Peter Lucas-Jones gave insights into ways to protect and manage Indigenous data sovereignty and shared examples of the work Te Hiku Media has undertaken in relation to AI technologies and its application to the promotion of te reo Māori.
- Patricia Adjei gave an update on the IP Australia’s Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property standalone legislation consultation process.
- A panel discussion featuring Dr Kylie Pappalardo, Robyn Van Dyk and Erin Driscoll. This panel discussed copyright reform broadly for cultural institutions and users of cultural heritage material held by collecting institutions, and ways to balance the copyright system to promote the use and access to copyright material, including orphan works.
- A panel discussion chaired by Delia Browne, and featuring Boris Eldagsen, Cullen Miller, Seb Chan, Olivia Lanchester. This panel explored the challenges and opportunities for AI for creators and users, creators as users of AI technologies and mechanisms to opt out of copyright.
All of the event’s videos are now available on the website or the ADA’s YouTube channel.
The forum was 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, particularly in relation to AI, facing copyright law in Australia and gave practical steps on how to approach these issues.
Update on Copyright Reform
The Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus MP KC has announced that as a result of the concerns raised at the Copyright Roundtables, the Government will be moving to make amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) to clarify existing rules on sharing copyrighted material for the delivery of online lessons.
The announcement also mentioned a commitment to further consultation on an “orphan works scheme” for Australia. ‘Orphan works’ are copyright materials for which an owner cannot be located or determined, yet present a significant cultural value for users and Australian society.