CONSUMERS THE WINNERS FROM REFORMS TO IMPORT LAWS

The Government will amend the Copyright Act to allow

for parallel importation of legitimately produced books, periodicals,

printed music, and software products including computer-based games.

The decision will allow Australian importers to obtain

these products and make them available to consumers as soon as they are

released anywhere in the world without having to wait for local companies

to release them in Australia.

Australian businesses and consumers will particularly

benefit from the abolition of import restrictions on packaged business

and educational software.

The Governments reforms will also pave the way for future

cost savings on these products for consumers and business. The Australian

Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) analysed the prices of books

and software early last year and indicated that consumers would be the

main beneficiaries of the repeal of current Copyright Act restrictions

on imports.

A range of products will be affected by the changes including

popular computer games, video arcade games, and popular applications for

word processing, database management, and graphical analysis.

The reforms will also eliminate the import monopoly of

a small number of multinational software companies and book publishers,

which has kept prices artificially high.

The Government will ensure that current anti-piracy measures

covering sound recordings will be extended to apply to all parallel imported

products.

The introduction of parallel importation for books will

be implemented 12 months after the passage of amending legislation, as

recommended by the Interim Report of the Intellectual Property and Competition

Review Committee. This timeframe will assist industry in the transition

to the new business environment.

Media Contacts: Catherine Fitzpatrick, Mr Williams office 02 6277

7300

Terry OConnor, Senator Alstons office 02 6277 7480

Paul Edwards, Mr Faheys office 02 6277 7400

Websites: www.richardalston.dcita.gov.au

www.law.gov.au

27 June 2000