Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Don't stop the music! A report of the inquiry into copyright, music and small business

This report remains the property of the Commonwealth of Australia 1998.
ISBN 0 644 526416.

The report of the inquiry into copyright, music and small business was tabled in the House of Representatives on 1 June 1998.

The government response was tabled on 2 November 2000: Website

To view or print the report, you will require the Acrobat PDF reader®, which can be downloaded free of charge from Adobe®.

Contents

Foreword

Membership of the Committee

Terms of reference

Abbreviations

Summary and recommendations

Inquiry process
Background to the inquiry
Matters the Committee must take into account
Scope of this report

Chapter 2 - The public performance right

Introduction
Copyright
Types of copyright which arise in music
Exclusive rights
The right to perform in public
Exceptions
International obligations
Copyright collecting societies

Chapter 3 - Information provided to small business by copyright collecting societies

Introduction
Comparison of approaches
APRA's response to criticism
Calls for information campaign
Conclusions

Chapter 4 - Whether licences take sufficient account of the number of listeners

Introduction
Licence fees
Taking account of audience size
The purpose of the music
A commonsense approach?
Administrative burdens
An exemption for small business?

Chapter 5 - Distinguishing between direct and indirect playing of music

Introduction
Value of indirect playing music
Broadcasters pay the fees
Philosophical issues
Legislative option define public performance
Voluntary system of complimentary licences
Conclusions

Chapter 6 - Cooperation between APRA and the PPCA in the collection of royalties

Introduction
Licensees views
Collecting societies views
Composers' views
Simpson Report
Conclusion

Chapter 7 -The copyright tribunal as an avenue for review to small businesses

Introduction
Monopoly status of collecting societies
The Copyright Tribunal
Effectiveness as an avenue of review for small business
The Copyright Tribunal and counteracting monopoly status
Balancing the rights of small user and the power of collecting societies
Broadening the jurisdiction of the Copyright Tribunal
Dispute resolution
Code of conduct
Conclusion

Chapter 8 - Future technological developments

Introduction
The internet Appendices

Appendix A - List of Submissions

Appendix B - List of Exhibits

Appendix C - List of Witnesses

Appendix D - Sample material from copyright collecting societies

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