Creative Commons Australia Response to the ProductivityudCommission Draft Report Intellectual Property Arrangements

摘要

CCAU supports the primary conclusion of the Productivity Commission's Draft Report that ‘Australia's IP system is out of kilter favouring rights holders over users and does not align with how people use IP in the modern era’. Copyright exists to promote the production of new expression and ‘public interest’. Recent changes in international copyright law have tipped the balance too far in the direction of established producers and distributors. This poses significant risks to creativity, free expression and the flow of information, knowledge and culture.ududCCAU aims to contribute to the discussion regarding copyright law and open access in Australia, with a focus on ensuring copyright achieves the optimal balance between providing protection and incentive for creators of work whilst encouraging innovation and competition through access to works.ududThe Draft Report makes important recommendations that, if implemented, would make critical improvements to ensuring that Australia’s copyright laws are fit for purpose in a digital age. Copyright reform is long overdue. The Draft Report builds on and supports recommendations detailed in a number of previous reports. To date, these recommendations have not been adequately implemented.ududCCAU supports the draft recommendations, in particular those that relate to ensuring access to and use of content is not unnecessarily restricted and creation and innovation is encouraged; and Supporting open scholarship through the use of open access initiatives and open licensing.