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Whether you download a movie or TV show from an unauthorised source or sell counterfeit DVDs on the street, you are stealing someone else's property and your actions carry serious legal consequences.
Australia's laws and international treaties exist to stop people from stealing valuable copyrighted material. Law enforcement authorities in Australia and around the world are committed to protecting copyrighted material because creative works such as films and television programs are property that is just as valuable as any other type of property.
AFACT and its member companies employ a multi-pronged approach to fighting copyright theft that includes educating people about the consequences of piracy, taking action against internet thieves, cooperating with law enforcement authorities around Australia to root out pirate operations, and encouraging the development of new technologies that ensure films and television programs can be made available legally over the internet and other digital media. As an industry we are working hard to protect our creative works.
In December 2006, the Commonwealth Government passed legislation which introduced significant reforms to the copyright law making it fairer for consumers and tougher for pirates.
To find out more visit the website of the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, click here.
If you'd like to find out more about copyright in general, you can visit the Australian Copyright Council at www.copyright.org.au
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Federal
To view Australia's Federal copyright legislation, go to Commonwealth Law Website
To view Australia's Trade Marks legislation, go to
Commonwealth Law Website
State
You can view related legislation for each state by visiting the Australasian Legal Information Institute at www.austlii.edu.au
For a summary of penalties, go to Laws and Penalties
Public Performance
What is a "Public Performance?"
Suppose you invite a few personal friends over for dinner and a movie. You purchase or rent a copy of a movie from the local video store and view the film in your home that night. Have you violated the copyright law by illegally "publicly performing" the movie? No.
But suppose you took the same movie and showed it for payment, or at a club or bar you happen to manage. In this case you have infringed the copyright of the movie. Simply put, movies obtained through a video store are not licensed for public exhibition. Home video means just that: viewing of a movie at home by family or a close circle of friends.
The concept of "public performance" is central to copyright and the issue of "intellectual property" protection. If a film or television producer did not have the right to retain ownership of his or her "work", and to show that work to the public for payment, there would be little incentive for them to continue in this line of work or to develop new programs.
Find out more
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