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ARIA Sells a Licence for DJs to Format Shift Music

Posted by samzenpus on from the next-up-a-whistling-tax dept.

lucas writes "The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has set up a new licence to let DJs format shift their music to use at gigs. DJs will need to pay a licence fee to copy music they already own legally from one format to another for ease of use, and as a back-up in case originals get lost or stolen. Criminal penalties for DJs involved in "music piracy" are up to sixty thousand dollars and 5 years imprisonment. There are also on-the-spot fines of over one thousand dollars."

10 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Does this match up with other Australian laws? by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Informative

    Ignoring for a moment that you're trying to use common sense to figure out copyright law and that is always a big fat waste of time, you're probably not away that only last year did it become legal to tape something off TV in Australia.

    For almost every case, Copyright in Australia is worse for the consumer than it is in the US. Almost.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  2. Re:public performance. by upside · · Score: 2, Informative
    Why are you trying to change the meaning of the article? It says they specifically pay for format shifting, as does the frikkin ARIA website.

    From TFA:

    Yep, they need to pay a licence fee to copy music they already own legally to their iPods, laptops, or compilation CDs.

    From the FAQ on the ARIA website:

    What sort of sound recording reproductions can ARIA license? ... A DJ wanting to put sound recordings from his various albums on to a single source (computer hardware) for ease of use, and as a back-up in case originals get lost or stolen.

    And regarding fair use, it does exist for private persons:

    Under legislation passed in late 2006, you no longer need permission, under limited circumstances, to make a copy of a CD or a digital download that you own for your private and domestic use for use on a different device.
    --
    I'm sorry if I haven't offended anyone
  3. 2006 copyright law changes by Michael+Wardle · · Score: 5, Informative

    In 2006, the government passed a law making format shift legal. In particular, it would be legal to copy from a CD to an iPod.

    It turns out this is only for "private, domestic use", which wouldn't apply to DJs on commercial premises.
    Format shifting fact sheet

  4. Re:No "fair use" in Australia by sahonen · · Score: 4, Informative

    What's wrong with my logic? I'm starting to suspect a troll here but I'll keep going just in case...

    A DJ, as part of spinning songs for a crowd, is already paying royalties to ARIA for the right to play those songs in public. I want you to explain to me exactly why he should be required to pay additional royalties on top of what he is already paying for the right to play those songs out of a laptop or off a compilation CD instead of the original CD.

    Bear in mind that copyright does not make it illegal to copy *any* music. It only makes it illegal to copy to music that you do not have a license to copy. DJs have that license because they pay royalties.

    --
    Make me a friend and I'll mod you up
  5. Performance fees are also going up by Zouden · · Score: 4, Informative

    Performance fees for dance music in Australian nightclubs are changing from $0.07/patron to $1.05/patron, a 1500% increase!

    --
    "A week in the lab saves an hour in the library"
  6. Is this not already enforced in the UK? by ma0sm · · Score: 3, Informative

    Or something similar, at least:
    http://www.djlicence.org.uk/faq.html

    "I only use original CDs in my performance, do I need these licences?
     No, these licences are for copying or dubbing music tracks to pc or mp3 player.
    These licences also DO NOT allow you to copy from CD to CD-R.
    To understand more about which licences apply where download the NADJ Licensing Grid."

  7. Re:In other news... by maglor_83 · · Score: 2, Informative

    They're closing down the Nauru and Manus Island detention centers. Although all I can find of actual action are a few articles saying it will close in about a month. All about a month apart, and it hasn't happened yet, so who knows how long it will take.

  8. DJs pay far more for a single already! by hardcoredreamer · · Score: 2, Informative

    These days you have to be prepared in case you show up and the venue has either vinyl turntables, or a digital setup. They could say that they have turntables, and they turn out to not have needles or better yet - they haven't been used in years and end up not working. Of course, with this you would have to buy your music twice, and 12" electronica vinyl records have 1-3 songs for $12-25 EACH. How much can one pay for one song they will actually play?!

    --
    I know a guy named Sig.
  9. Re:No "fair use" in Australia by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Informative

    The law in Australia makes no distinction..

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  10. Re:No "fair use" in Australia by ACDChook · · Score: 2, Informative

    Bear in mind that copyright does not make it illegal to copy *any* music. It does here in Australia. It is illegal to copy anything from one format to another. If you buy a CD, you are only allowed to listen to it on that CD. If you want to keep it as an mp3, you have to purchase it online (which you could not do legally here until about 2 years ago). The previous government here made no effort to modernise our laws. Hopefully the new one does.