Australia: DVD and iPod taping may be legal

Friday, May 6, 2005

Australia: DVD and iPod taping may be legal

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Home recording of DVD movies and of music to iPod or MP3 players might be made legal under a Federal Government review in Australia.

The explosion in recording from the internet and the use of digitised music has forced the Government to consider American-style "fair use" laws on copyright.

Announcing the review of the Copyright Act yesterday, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the public would have an input into any changes.

"The Government is aware developments in digital technology are changing the way people use copyright material," Mr Ruddock said.

"Many Australians believe quite reasonably they should be able to record a television program or format-shift music from their own CD to an iPod or MP3 player without infringing copyright law."

Australian laws allow copyrighted material to be used in specific areas such as research or news reporting.

But the US has much more open-ended and liberal "fair use" laws that allow wider use of copyrighted material but prevent piracy.