A reader responds to the Productivity Commission submissions
Pat Woolley, director of Wild & Woolley/Fast Books, writes: ‘I am astounded at the great submissions to the productivity commission that have been written by so many writers, printers, publishers,...
Quote of the week
‘The proponents of the current protectionist regime rely on inaccurate, often emotive arguments including the alleged number of Australian titled books produced in Australia. The Chief Executive Officer of the...
Productivity Commission still processing submissions
The Productivity Commission has now received more than 120 submissions to its study on the laws governing the parallel importation of books in Australia. The study and attendant issues are...
ABA changes position to oppose open market
The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has changed its position on the question of an open market, recommending Australia retain its territorial copyright. ‘The management committee met through December and decided in...
Quote of the week
'Going through all this again is torture for the trade. Old warriors are hiding behind remainder bins. Industry heads are speechless with disbelief and boredom. Only Dymocks--with 96 stores and...
Leading Edge meetings ‘unanimous’:retain copyright–with modifications
Leading Edge Books members who attended the three information sessions hosted by the buying group in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, have come to a ‘unanimous position' on the current parallel...
Sylvan to remain on Productivity Commission study; Banks responds to industry concern
Productivity Commission chair Gary Banks has responded to industry concerns about the appointment of commissioner Louise Sylvan to the commission's study of parallel importation laws, declaring Sylvan ‘will remain attached...
Industry response to Issues Paper; APA, ASA, printers call for Commissioner Sylvan to step down
The Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) has criticised the Issues Paper released by the Productivity Commission as part of its study into Australia's parallel book importation laws last week.‘We...
Productivity Commission issues paper released
The Productivity Commission today released its issues paper on ‘copyright restrictions on the parallel importation of books', as part of its study commissioned by the federal government. The issues paper...
Productivity Commission announces submission deadline
Following the release of the terms of reference for its parallel importation study the Productivity Commission has announced a deadline of 20 January 2009 for submissions. Any interested individuals or...
Publishers, booksellers respond to Productivity Commission terms of reference
The Australian Publishers Association has declared it will be ‘very vocal in seeking to maintain the 1991 reforms to copyright laws', following the release last Friday of the Productivity Commission's...
Productivity Commission terms of reference announced
Chris Bowen, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, has announced the terms of reference for a Productivity Commission report on the current laws regarding parallel book importation...
APA, ASA to defend parallel importation rules
Following the shock announcement of a proposed review into Australia's parallel importation legislation, as reported in a WBN special bulletin on Monday, the Australian Publishers Association (APA) and Australian Society...