Amends the Copyright Act 1968 to remove restrictions limiting the Copyright Tribunal from: determining the amount payable to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to one per cent of the commercial broadcaster’s gross earnings; and determining the amount payable by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from to copyright owners, in respect of published sound recordings, to an amount not exceeding 0.5 cents per head of the Australian population.
The bill should be supported because it promotes fair compensation for artists and rights holders by allowing market-determined licensing fees, thereby aligning with democratic values of fairness and equity. Ensuring artists receive fair pay encourages the continued creation and dissemination of cultural works, benefiting society as a whole. Furthermore, aligning radio broadcast rights with other copyright forms supports intellectual development and innovation by fostering a more balanced and competitive market [Judgment].
The bill should be opposed because removing the caps may lead to increased costs for broadcasters, which could be passed on to consumers or lead to reduced diversity in radio programming as smaller broadcasters struggle to afford higher fees. This could potentially destabilize the current balance in the media landscape, undermining the availability of diverse content for the public. Moreover, it may disproportionately affect smaller community stations that play a vital role in local culture and information dissemination [Judgment].
2023-08-03
Senate
Before Senate
POCOCK, Sen David
Unspecified
Media / Advertising, Intellectual Property, Democratic Institutions