Last Updated: 27 February 2006
The bulk of Australia’s obligations under the AU-USA Free Trade Agreement were enacted into Australian law through the US Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 2004. Schedule 9 of the Act included changes to Australian copyright law, which are now part of the Copyright Act 1968. Further rushed changes were made by the Copyright Legislation Amendment Act 2004. The FTA also requires Australia to implement a range of matters relating to circumvention of technological protection measures. These changes were due to be in place by the start of 2007.
Urgent copyright reform needed to counter FTA, EFA Media Release, 18 August 2004
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Report on the FTA
Senate Select Committee on the FTA Final Report
Hansard Transcript of Senate Select Committee hearing (PDF), including testimony by two EFA Board members and IP roundtable discussion, 17 May 2004.
EFA submission to the Senate Select Committee inquiry into the Australia – United States of America Free Trade Agreement, 30 April 2004.
EFA submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties inquiry into the Australia – United States of America Free Trade Agreement, 13 April 2004.
EFA position paper on the Intellectual Property provisions of the AU-USA Free Trade Agreement, 19 April 2004.
EFA dismayed by IP Clauses of Free Trade Agreement, EFA Media Release, 12 February 2004.
Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade (“DFAT”) Fact Sheet on the Intellectual Property chapter of the AU-USA FTAParliamentary inquiries into the AU-USA Free Trade Agreement
