ASA attends Copyright Roundtable

6.03.23

Last week the ASA joined other peak bodies across literature, broadcasting, screen, music, education, and museums and galleries at a Ministerial Copyright Roundtable hosted by the Attorney General’s Department in order to discuss copyright priorities. Frank and collaborative discussions led to five issues emerging as areas for further discussion and potential consensus reform: 

1. A limited liability scheme for Orphan Works (ie. where the copyright owner cannot be found)  
2. New quotation exception 
3. Remote learning in schools
4. Implications of Artificial intelligence for copyright law
5. Updating definition of ‘Broadcast’ (less relevant for authors, more important to audio-visual creators) 

Our position in copyright discussions is that licensing solutions are to be preferred over new exceptions to preserve rights and remuneration for the author. We believe the introduction of new exceptions requires a cautious and evidence-based approach and we support the statutory licence as the most efficient way to support educational institutions. In the context of perilously low author earnings, and given the fundamental importance of authors’ contribution to our education system, their fair recompense must be supported by legislation. 

We look forward to contributing collaboratively to discussions and will continue to ensure the author voice is represented to Government and other stakeholders over the coming year as these issues are discussed at future Roundtables.