Volume 7 Issue 1

The Future of Australian Copyright Protection for Computer Programs and Related Products*

©Andrew Christie**

In 1995, the Australian Copyright Law Review Committee published its Final Report on Computer Software Protection. The Report considers many complex issues concerning copyright protection for computer programs, including ownership and duration of rights, the applicability of moral rights and the need for defences to infringement by decompilation. In addition, the Report deals with the need for protection of subject matter related to computer programs, such as screen displays, multi-media works and databases. In this article, the author summarises and critically evaluates the recommendations of the Report on these issues. The author also identifies and discusses the lessons to be learnt from this review process for the future reform of Australian copyright law.

** BSc, LLB (Hons) (Melb), LLM (Lond), PhD (Cantab); Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne.