July 4, 2017

A life-changing Byron writers panel

Authors Tracey Spicer and Barry Jones and former Fairfax book editor, Susan Wyndham, will be interviewed by Copyright Agency CEO Adam Suckling on the books that changed their lives at the Byron Writers Festival on Saturday 5 August. Visitors to the festival, from 4-6 August, will be able to bring along their life-changing book – […]

July 4, 2017

Create Funding selection is underway

The Career Fund judging panel met at the end of June to review about 60 applications to the May round of the Create Career Fund grants program, which is a stream of the Copyright Agency | Viscopy Cultural Fund. The Create Career Fund supports mid-to-late career artists and authors by providing grants that allow the time to develop […]

June 27, 2017

Creative organisations launch #FreeIsNotFair campaign

Australian organisations representing musicians, authors, visual artists, educators, screen producers and publishers have joined forces to mount the #FreeIsNotFair campaign in response to a push by Big Tech and large organisations to water down Australia’s copyright laws. The campaign’s website www.freeisnotfair.org features leading Australian creators, such as musicians Jimmy Barnes and Josh Pyke, actor, director and writer […]

June 26, 2017

The Copyright Agency and Viscopy to merge

After a successful five-year ‘Services Agreement’ between rights management organisations, the Copyright Agency and Viscopy, the two organisations have agreed in principle to begin the formal arrangements to merge. Between them, the two organisations represent some 43,000 members, ranging from visual artists and illustrators to journalists, cartoonists, surveyors, educational authors and publishers. Viscopy Chair, Tim […]

June 22, 2017

Resale royalty right discussed on world stage

In May, the World Intellectual Property Organisation hosted an international conference on the visual artists’ resale right. This landmark event was a milestone in the global campaign to promote international adoption of the right. The Copyright Agency | Viscopy’s Judy Grady presented evidence from Australia’s resale scheme via Skype, to the many artists, policy makers, […]

June 19, 2017

Miles Franklin shortlist named

60 years ago, author Miles Franklin had a vision: to advance and better Australian literature. As the shortlist for the 2017 Miles Franklin Literary Award is revealed, it’s fair to say Miles herself would be delighted to see five first-time nominees, each with their own distinct voice and writing style, recognised in the Award’s jubilee […]

June 16, 2017

Copyright Amendment changes a model for future reform

The Copyright Agency welcomes the passing of the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill 2017 by the Australian Parliament. The passage of the Bill means it will be even simpler for students to access a huge range of content, libraries will be able to exhibit more material to the Australian public and people […]

June 16, 2017

Open Letter from Writers of Stage and Screen

Australia’s leading writers for stage and screen add their voice to oppose Productivity Commission recommendations on copyright. Did you love Underbelly, Offspring, Rake, Emerald City, The Drover’s Wife, Red Dog, Away, Animal Kingdom or The Secret River? Or Strictly Ballroom, Neighbours, Happy Feet, Don’s Party, Muriel’s Wedding or Babe? As writers telling some of Australia’s best-loved stories across […]