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Submission to Government on proposed expansion of legal deposit scheme

CAL 's recent submission to Government raises concerns over proposed expansion of legal deposit scheme to require deposit of audio-visual and electronic materials.

Under existing legal requirements found under section 201 of the Copyright Act 1968 , anyone who creates ‘published material' must provide – or ‘deposit' – a print copy of these works to the National Library. Publications must be provided to the Library's legal deposit within one month after publication, or face a fine of $100. Government is now considering extending legal deposit to cover electronic and audio-visual works.

While CAL considers the creation of an electronic repository of Australian works to be a cultural heritage benefit for future generations, CAL wants to ensure any scheme does not unfairly prejudice the creators of those works.

CAL 's key concerns are that electronic works deposited under an expanded legal deposit scheme:

• Not be copied for library users with no remuneration paid to the creator.
• Be adequately protected in relation to Technological Protection Measures – and not released to the public with such security measures removed from them.

Click here to view the electronic legal deposit submission that was sent to Government on Tuesday 12th February 2008.

To find out more about the extension of legal deposit, visit the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department website.

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