Safe Harbour Bill expanded
July 11, 2018
On 27 June, the Government passed the Copyright Amendment (Services Providers) Bill 2017 to improve copyright protections for the disability, educational and cultural sectors.
The Copyright Agency welcomes the changes, as does Universities Australia, the Council of Australian University Librarians and representatives of schools and people with disabilities.
Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield, said in a media release, “The safe harbour scheme will protect these sectors from legal liability where they can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to reduce copyright infringement on their online systems or networks,” Minister Fifield said.
“Schools and universities play a vital role in providing services to millions of students and staff every day. Classrooms are increasingly interactive and connected, with virtually every aspect of education today involving some use of digital technology.”
The successful passage of the Bill is the result of extensive consultation with copyright users and rights holders. The Copyright Agency’s submission is here.
The Department of Communications and the Arts has now published all of the 89 submissions received in response to its Copyright Modernisation consultation paper. You can access these submissions from the consultation page (scroll down to the section below ‘Participate’ at the bottom of the page).
The Copyright Agency routinely makes submissions to inquiries. See a list here.