chronology

This page is under construction. It highlights key points in the history of collective rights administration in Australia and overseas.

     prehistory

1709 British Statute of Anne provides basis for copyright law in future Australian colonies

1791 collecting society for French composers founded by Beaumarchais in France but fails

1837 Société des gens de lettres founded in France

1838 UK International Copyright Act 1838

1847 Bourget, Parizot and Henrion successfully sue Paris cafe for music royalties

1850 Societe des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeirs de Musique (SACEM) established in France as first true copyright collecting society

1886 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary & Industrial Works

1903 Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte (GEMA) formed in Germany

1905 Copyright Act 1905 in Australia

1908 Berlin Convention adds photography, film and sound recordings to Berne

1909 Copyright Law amendment in US

1911 Performing Right Society (PRS) founded in UK

1912 Australian Copyright Act 1912 reflects UK Act of 1911

1913 American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) formed in US

1924 Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) founded in UK

1926 Confederation Internationale des Societes Auteurs & Compositeurs (CISAC) founded

     Australian societies

1926 Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd (APRA) founded

1928 Rome Convention adds broadcasting to Berne

1929 Bureau International des Sociétés Gérant les Droits D'Enregistrement et les Reproduction Mecanique (BIEM) founded

1933 Associazione dei Fonografici Italiani (AFI) founded

1939 1939, the Dai-Nippon Music Copyright Association founded in Japan

1940 BMI formed in US

1948 Brussels Convention adds television to Berne

1956 Copyright Owners Reproduction Society Limited (CORS) formed in Australia

1961 Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms & Broadcasting Organizations

1962 SESAC formed in US

     1968 Act

1968 Australian Copyright Act 1968

1968 Australian Copyright Tribunal established

1969 Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA) founded

1973 BONUS RRO founded in Sweden

1973 CORS becomes Australian Music Publishers Association Ltd (AMPAL)

1974 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) established

1974 Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) founded in Australia

1975 Moorhouse v UNSW case in Australia

1975 AMPAL establishes ANZ Music Copyright Agency

1976 Copyright Law Committee on Reprographic Reproduction (Franki Report)

1980 origins of International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO)

1980 Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited (AMCOS) replaces ANZ Music Copyright Agency

1985 CAL v Department of Education case in Australia

1988 CANCOPY formed in Canada

1990 Audio-Visual Copyright Society Ltd (AVCS, later Screenrights) formed in Australia

     digital era

1992 Broadcasting Services Act 1992 in Australia

1993 Mana Tangata Mataatua Declaration in New Zealand

1994 Stopping the Ripoffs: Intellectual Property Protection for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples issues paper in Australia

1994 CLRC Journalists' Copyright report

1994 Highways to Change: Copyright in the New Communications Environment report by Commonwealth government

1995 Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) comes into effect

1995 Visual Arts Copyright Collecting Agency (Viscopy) founded in Australia

1995 Review of Australian Copyright Collecting Societies (Simpson Report) in Australia

1995 Performers' Rights: Options for Reform Commonwealth government report

1996 WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)

1996 WIPO Performances & Phonograms Treaty (WPPT)

1996 Nationwide News v Copyright Agency Ltd case

1997 Performers' Intellectual Property Rights Commonwealth government discussion paper

1997 Telstra v APRA (Music On Hold) case

1998 PPCA v FACTS case in High Court

1998 Our Culture Our Future report in Australia

1998 House of Representatives Don't Stop The Music! report on APRA and PPCA

1998 AVCS administers educational copying licence in New Zealand

1999 Copyright Agency Ltd v Uni of Adelaide case

1999 AVCS renamed Screenrights

2000 Cracking Down on Copycats report in Australia

2000 Intellectual Property & Competition Review in Australia

2000 Copyright Law Review Committee report on Copyright Tribunal

     digital environment

2000 Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000 in Australia

2000 Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000 in Australia




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