Copyright to change

AUSTRALIA’S niche hardware and software industry is likely to get a boost from changes to the Copyright Act.

The changes will allow hardware and software developers to decompile existing programs to help make compatible products.

The Copyright Amendment Computer Programs Bill will bring Australia’s copyright law more into line with trading partners such as the US and Europe.

Computer program copyright owners will be encouraged to give the information needed about their programs to help make compatible products and security test computer networks.

If the information is not readily available, Australian software developers will now be allowed to decompile programs to discover it.

Decompilation will also be allowed to correct errors in a program if an error-free version is not reasonably available. It will also help combat the Y2K bug.

Decompiling computer programs will not be allowed for other purposes. Nor can information legitimately derived from decompilation then be used for other purposes.

The changes will not weaken existing sanctions against making pirate copies of computer programs.