4 May

Performers Rights to be examined at WIPO

Australia will be attending the WIPO Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances to be held in Beijing in June this year. The proposed terms of the Audiovisual PerformancesTreaty will provide protection for the visual aspects of live performances and performances fixed in audio visual recordings. Such protection is already available for the aural aspects of live performances and sound recordings of performances. Arts Law considers that there is no legitimate basis to treat the audiovisual aspects of performances differently from the aural aspects of performances and supports Australia's accession to the Treaty. The June conference will consider the way in which rights are transferred from from performers to film producers. Arts Law will making submissions to the Attorney General in advance of the conference.