Australian Copyright Law Overhaul - Common Sense Prevails

Posted by: gusi on 13 May 2006

In a rare bout of sanity the Australian government has decided to radically overhaul copyright laws.

It will now be legal to convert your own music collection to different formats, effectively allowing you to play your own CD collection on ipods and squeezeboxes.

Downloading and playing podcasts will also be legalised.

This is a huge step forward for the "fair use" of copy righted materials and millions of aussies who indulge in these practices will be breath a sigh of relieve.

There is also an increase in penalties for internet piracy and the removal of the 1% cap on radio copyright license fees. I am not sure what effect that will have on radio stations.

Gus

see also http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/05/13/1146940775897.html?from=top5
Posted on: 14 May 2006 by jasons
Don't expect the uk to follow suit.
Posted on: 14 May 2006 by gusi
Well, the legislation hasn't been passed yet. Perhaps the RIAA will have something to say about it.

Recording TV programs and viewing them later will also be legalised. Now if only they gave the abc enough money for some decent programs...