Keypoints

The NSW Government has extended the terms of the 2010 agreement with the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) to settle all outstanding liability to 30 June 2012 (see Circular C2010-23). This agreement is for payment of copyright fees for NSW Government reproduction and communication (i.e. copying and electronic transmission via intranet and internal email) of published works without the permission of the copyright owner.

This agreement does not cover posting the copyright work of others on websites or emailing the copyright work of others outside of the NSW government. These activities are only to be undertaken with the agreement of the copyright owner.

Under the Copyright Act 1968, agencies are required to pay the fee as compensation to copyright owners for Government employees copying published works such as books, newspapers, magazines and journals. Under the agreement, CAL will invoice each agency for the financial years ending 30 June 2011 (at a rate of $11 per Full Time Equivalent staff) and 30 June 2012 (at $11.22 per FTE).

CAL is currently sending out invoices for the 2010-11 financial year. Invoices for the 2011-12 financial year will be sent out after 30 June 2012. Payment of invoices is required within 30 days of receipt.

If you have any queries regarding your agency’s obligations, please refer to the Copyright Unit website at www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lpd (then select Copyright Unit). This site contains information to assist agencies to understand the NSW Governments obligations under the Copyright Act and to CAL.

All other inquiries can be directed to the State Copyright Manager, NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice via email: [email protected].

Chris Eccles
Director General