IP/N/1/AUS/11  
IP/N/1/AUS/C/20  
 
26 February 2018  
(18-1219) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects  
of Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS  AND REGULATIONS  
UNDER  ARTICLE 63.2  OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT  
AUSTRALIA : COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT (DISABILITY ACCESS A ND OTHER MEASURE) AC T 2017  
Notifying Member  AUSTRALIA  
 
Details of the notified legal text  
 
Title Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Act 2017  
Subject matter  Copyright and related rights  
 
Nature of 
notification   Main dedicated intellectual property law or regulation  
 Other law or regulation  
Link to legal text  https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/IP/AUS/18_1062_00_e.pdf  
 
Notification status   First notification  
 Amendment or revision to notified legal text  
 Replacement or consolidation of notified legal text(s)  
Previous 
notification(s) 
referred to  IP/N/1/AUS/C/3 (Copyright Act 1968 - Act No.63 of 1968 as amended, 
compilation as of 30 July 2002)  
"https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?DataSour
ce=Cat&query=@SymbolMatch=IP/N/1/AUS/C/3*&Language=English&Con
text=ScriptedSearches&languageUIChanged=true# " 
 
IP/N/1/AUS/C/1  (Copyright Act 1968, consolidated as in force on 
22 January 1998. This consolidated version replaces the Copyright Act 
1968, reprinted as at 31  October 1992)  
"https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages /FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?DataSour
ce=Cat&query=@SymbolMatch=IP/N/1/AUS/C/1&Language=English&Cont
ext=ScriptedSearches&languageUIChanged=true# " 
 
IP/N/1/AUS/1/Add.1 (Copyright Act 1968 , reprinted as at 
31 October  1992)  
"https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?DataS our
ce=Cat&query=@SymbolMatch=IP/N/1/AUS/1/Add.1*&Language=English
&Context=ScriptedSearches&languageUIChanged=true# " 
 IP/N/1/AUS/11 • IP/N/1/AUS/C/20  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Brief description of the notified legal text  
 
The Act amends the Copyright Act 1968  to enhance access to copyright material for persons with a 
disability, consistent with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Marrakesh Treaty to 
Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise 
Print Disabled  ratified by Australia on 10 December 2015; streamline and modernise provisions for 
the education, libraries and archives sectors of Australia; and harmonise terms of copyright for 
published and unpublished materials.  
 
The Act provi des: 
 
 Persons with a disability, and others action on their behalf, with a fair dealing exception;  
 A new, consolidated exception that applies to educational institutions and other not -for-
profit organisations assisting  persons with a disability;  
 
it also:  
 
 Modernises the preservation exceptions for copyright material in libraries, archives and key 
cultural institutions;  
 Simplif ies the statutory licences that allow education al institutions to use works and 
broadcasts;  
 Allow s copyright material to be incorporated into educational assessments conducted 
online;  
 Sets new standard terms of protection for original published and unpublished materials and 
for Crown copyright in original materials; and  
 Makes minor amendments to update references to Ministers and precondit ions for making 
regulations extending or restricting the operations of the Act in relation to foreign countries.   
 
Language(s) of 
notified legal text English  
Date of adoption  22 June 2017  
Entry into force  Schedule 1 on 22 December 2017  
Schedule 2 on 1 January 2019  
Schedule 3, Part 1 on 23 June 2017  
Schedule 3, Part 2 on 22 December 2017  
All other provision s not mentioned in the schedule s above on 
22 June 2017. 
 
Notification details  
 
Submission date of 
notification  15 February 2018  
Other information  The Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) 
Act 2017 is also available at:  
 
 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017A00049   
 
Agency or authority 
responsible  Department of Communications and the Arts  
Nishi Building  
2 Phillip Law Street  
Canberra ACT 2601  
 
Telephone: +61 2 6271 1000