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Update from Australia: the copyright cloud hanging over our national collections

Ellen M. Broad (Australian Digital Alliance and Australian Libraries Copyright Committee Canberra, Australia)

Interlending & Document Supply

ISSN: 0264-1615

Article publication date: 12 August 2013

873

Abstract

Purpose

High-speed internet and digital technology offer new ways of accessing and interpreting collection material in our cultural institutions. The ability of cultural institutions to unlock access to their collections online is constrained by copyright law. This paper examines the push in Australia for cultural institutions to “set collections free” online, and copyright law reform developments that hinder or facilitate making comprehensive online experiences of collections a reality.

Design/methodology/approach

It considers constraints in Australian copyright law following the adoption of increased IP enforcement and protection standards under the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement, in light of internationalisation of these standards through recent multi-lateral trade agreements. Finally, it considers copyright law reform options to better “unlock” or “set free” collections in cyberspace.

Findings

It recommends the inclusion of safeguards for copyright exceptions and limitations in trade agreements, and reaffirmation of user and public institution rights of access to information. It warns against the adoption of onerous anti-circumvention provisions. It also recommends various domestic law reform options to free up access to cultural collections.

Originality/value

Australia was one of the early adopters of the US-IP model that is fast becoming the international standard for enforcement and protection of IP rights. As such, looking at current Australian copyright law may help us better understand the effect IP-maximalist chapters being promoted in multilateral trade agreements may have on similar net-IP importing countries.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

© Ellen Broad 2013. This paper was originally presented at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2012, Helsinki, Finland, as part of Master of contents, or how to win the battle over freedom in cyberspace. Published with the kind permission of IFLA. www.ifla.org/

Citation

M. Broad, E. (2013), "Update from Australia: the copyright cloud hanging over our national collections", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 41 No. 3, pp. 81-86. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILDS-06-2013-0018

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Authors

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