TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED Response to Department of Communications and the Arts of the Copyright ‘Stakeholder Consultation: proposed reform Act 1968’ February 2016 INTRODUCTION Telstra Corporation Limited (Telstra) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Department of Communications and the Stakeholder consultation: proposed reform of the Copyright Act 1968. Arts’ telecommunications and information services company, providing a full range We are Australia’s leading of communications services across a number of markets. We have an established intellectual property portfolio in Australia and overseas, and we are both a licensor and licensee of technology, including a licensee of online and digital content. BACKGROUND In August 2015, the Productivity Commission commenced a broad inquiry into Australia’s intellectual property arrangements. It is scheduled to report in August 2016. In December 2015, the Department of Communications and the Arts released an exposure draft of the Copyright Amendment (Disability and Department has stated that it is appropriate to proceed with the other Measures) Bill 2015 (‘Bill’). The proposed amendments in the Bill before the Commission those amendments simplify the reports ‘as operation of the Act and are likely to be consistent with the recommendations (if any) made by the Commission in relation to limitations and exceptions to copyright’
TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED Response to Department of Communications and the Arts ‘Stakeholder Consultation: proposed reform of the Copyright Act 1968’ February 2016 INTRODUCTION Telstra Corporation Limited (Telstra) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Department of Communications and the Arts’ Stakeholder consultation: proposed reform of the Copyright Act 1968. We are Australia’s leading telecommunications and information services company, providing a full range of communications services across a number of markets. We have an established intellectual property portfolio in Australia and overseas, and we are both a licensor and licensee of technology, including a licensee of online and digital content. BACKGROUND In August 2015, the Productivity Commission commenced a broad inquiry into Australia’s intellectual property arrangements. It is scheduled to report in August 2016. In December 2015, the Department of Communications and the Arts released an exposure draft of the Copyright Amendment (Disability and other Measures) Bill 2015 (‘Bill’). The Department has stated that it is appropriate to proceed with the proposed amendments in the Bill before the Commission reports ‘as those amendments simplify the operation of the Act and are likely to be consistent with the recommendations (if any) made by the Commission in relation to limitations and exceptions to copyright’