Book reviews

Post‐Secondary Distance Education in Canada: Policies, Practices, and Priorities. Edited by Robert Sweet. (Edmonton, Alberta: Athabasca University and the Canadian Society for Studies in Education, 1989, 272 pp., $15.95 Canadian.)

The Computer Revolution in Education: New Technologies for Distance Teaching. Edited by Ann Jones, Eileen Scanlon and Tim O'Shea. (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1987. 282 pp. $37.50)     

Digital copying and the statutory licences in Australian universities

Since its introduction in 1983, the educational statutory licence has been revised and amended to take into account developments in copying practices within the Australian university sector, and in March 2000 a new educational licensing arrangement was entered into. The new licence sees the focus of educational copying shift away from reprographic copying to digital copying. The aim of this article is to examine briefly the current educational copying regime in Australia, looking at the licences entered into by the universities and the copyright owners, and comparing the way the new 2000 licensing agreement operates in contrast with the earlier licences. The impact of the recently enacted Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000 is also examined in light of the new 2000 statutory licence and how these changes may impact upon current copying practices within Australian universities.     

Copyright and licensing — the changing scene

A rapid survey of the key current issues and changes in the copyright and licensing environment. Briefly discusses the reasons why there is so much change, and in particular the changing attitudes of both authors and customers towards publishers. Surveys the new contractual problems confronting publishers; the requirements for doing business electronically in future; major legal changes; and developments in licensing. Concludes by considering how publishers can influence what happens.