copyright amendment bill - exposure draft

The Attorney General's Department has released the exposure draft of the Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 including Technological Protection Measure exemptions for Libraries and Archives.

Comments are due by Friday 22nd September 2006.

exceptions to TPMs

as part of the AUSFTA, the National Library has been involved with discussions regarding the use of Technological Protection Measures (TPMs) and how this will affect the memory sector's (Libraries, Archives, Museums and Galleries) ability to carry out their day-to-day functions and processes.

The review of the TPMs report was tabled in Aust. parliament on the 1st March and the committee supported the exceptions for Libraries.

Details (including the report) can now be found at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/protection/

mod-chipping

Sony vs Stevens case came thru yesterday ruling that mod chipping of Sony PlayStations is legal.

Hopefully this effects the exemption of TPM's for Australian cultural institutions (as a result of the FTA) in a positive way. and the association of tools with alternatively licenced materials (such as media licenced under creative commons)

See: http://www.theage.com.au/news/breaking/playstation-mods-legal-says-high-court/2005/10/06/1128562920702.html