Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

1 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. 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