Australian iPod owners escape the long arm of the law

By Adam Turner
Tuesday, 12 December 2006 13:14

Your IT - Entertainment

Australians will soon be able to copy music from CDs to MP3 players and record television shows without breaking the law, after new copyright laws were signed off by the Governor-General.

The new laws, which come into affect on January 1, legalise "format shifting" music - such as from a CD to an iPod - but not format shifting video from a DVD to an iPod. The Government has committed to review whether the format-shifting exception can be extended to audio visual material by March 2008.

The legislation underwent significant changes before passing through parliament. In its original form it would not have actually legalised shifting music to an iPod because it forbade keeping multiple copies of songs - such as one on a computer and one on a music player. Under the original provisions, just owning an MP3 player, video recorder or camera phone would have been criminalised.

Even the final legislation still contains restrictions that will baffle many Australians. According to an FAQ issued by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, it is finally legal to record television using a VCR. Playing a region-coded DVD bought overseas in a multi-zone DVD player would also be legal. However, it is illegal to "build up a collection [of recorded programs] to keep indefinitely for repeated use". Consumers are expected to watch a recording once and then tape over it.

Such cutting edge reforms demonstrated the Government's "commitment to ensuring the laws reflected changes to the technical landscape," said Attorney-General Philip Ruddock - 30 years after VCRs were released in Australia.

"Everyday consumers shouldn't be treated like copyright pirates. Copyright pirates shouldn't be treated like everyday consumers," Ruddock said. "In fact, anyone who uses iPods, DVDs, CDs or records television programs will benefit from the changes."

"Tonight countless Australians will no longer be breaking the law," he said, even though the new law doesn't come into effect for two weeks.