Some reflections on 50 years of the Copyright Act in Australia

摘要

In May this year, the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ("Copyright Act") will have been operating for 50 years. In an environment of seemingly endless copyright reviews, in Australia and internationally, what stands out from the last 50 years? And how might it be relevant to the future development of copyright law? This article is not (thankfully) a comprehensive review of the last 50 years. Instead, it highlights some of the key developments, many of which have continued relevance for the future directions of copyright. It also highlights areas in which Australia took a lead, in the international arena, on copyright reform.