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ARTICLE · 30 APRIL 2007

Copyright Amendment Act Strengthens Australia´s TPM Laws

Minter Ellison
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After the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement came into effect on 1 January 2005 there was widespread concern from some copyright users and consumer groups about Australia's obligation to introduce stronger protection of technological protection measures (TPMs).

AustraliaIntellectual Property
Melina Eyre
Melina Eyre

After the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement came into effect on 1 January 2005 there was widespread concern from some copyright users and consumer groups about Australia's obligation to introduce stronger protection of technological protection measures (TPMs). Australia had two years in which to introduce these measures, and has now done so by amending the Copyright Act 1964 (Copyright Act). The amendments were introduced by the Copyright Amendment Act 2006 which received royal assent on 11 December 2006, with the relevant provisions having come into effect on 1 January 2007 (Amendment Act).

A TPM is a digital lock – normally implemented using some form of password protection or encryption software – used to prevent unauthorised access to and use of digital material. TPMs enable copyright owners to protect material from piracy, as only authorised users are legitimately able to open these digital locks.

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