March 5, 2024

Consultation on First Nations traditional knowledge and cultural expressions

On 4 March 2024, the Australian Government announced its consultation process on protecting First Nations traditional knowledge and cultural expressions. You can see the announcement here, and more information on the Office for the Arts website here. The development of the legislation is a commitment under the National Cultural Policy, Revive: a place for every story, […]

March 5, 2024

Indian government says copyright framework fit for purpose for AI

On 9 February, the Indian Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued a statement headed ‘Existing IPR regime well-equipped to protect AI generated works, no need to create separate category of rights’. You can see the statement here. The statement says: there is no requirement to create a separate category of rights for AI and related […]

February 26, 2024

Universities Accord final report released

On 25 February, the Government released the Australian Universities Accord final report. You can see the full report here, the summary report here, and the Education Minister’s announcement here. The report contains 47 recommendations, with a strong focus on equity and increased opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The first recommendation is that the objective […]

February 23, 2024

IPA position on Generative AI and Copyright

The International Publishers Association (IPA) has published its position statement on Generative AI and Copyright Policy. The IPA says: The position reaffirms that the existing legal framework is clear. Collecting, handling, storing, and copying works of authorship to train AI models implicates the exclusive rights of authors, which cannot be ignored. Generative AI companies must […]

February 23, 2024

Latest design in Qantas-Balarinji Flying Art Series takes flight

Copyright Agency’s visual arts licensing team joined Qantas, Balarinji Design Studio, Tjungu Palya Arts and senior Pitjantjatjara artist Maringka Baker in Uluru on 23 February to ceremoniously launch the latest design in the Qantas-Balarinji Flying Art Series. At the end of 2023, Qantas unveiled the first of its new Airbus A220 aircrafts, featuring the artwork […]

February 22, 2024

Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund kicks off 2024 with almost half a million dollars in approved funding

Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund announces funding of $439,840 to 27 Australian organisations for projects in 2024. The grants support projects to benefit creative writers, publishers and visual artists. In addition to this funding, the Cultural Fund will support nine national Australian writers’ festivals held in 2024. The grants will fund panel sessions and interviews with […]

John Wolseley

February 20, 2024

Resale royalty – estates, beneficiaries, and the acquisition date

One of the criteria that determines if a resale is eligible for a royalty payment is when the owner of the work acquired it.  If an artwork existed as at 9 June 2010 (the start of the scheme), there is no royalty payable on the first resale of that work. This means that a person […]

February 18, 2024

Government announces temporary AI reference group

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) recently announced the formation of a temporary AI reference group, which will operate until 30 June 2024 (here). The Group’s terms of reference are here, and its members are here (scroll to bottom of page). The group’s members have backgrounds in law (such as legal issues associated […]