Archived events and visitors prior to 1-Jan-2009
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Friday, November 21, 2008	Annual CMCL Conference - Media, Communications and Public Speech Keynote speakers are: Kathy Bowrey - Professor, Faculty of Law, University of NSW Cherian George - Assistant Professor, Acting Head of Journalism and Publishing, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University Jonathan Griffiths - Queen Mary, University of London, School of Law Peter Jaszi - Professor of Law, Faculty Director, Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic, Washington College of Law, American University Dario Milo - Partner, Webber Wentzel , South Africa and Lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand Katharine Sarikakis - Director, Centre for International Communications Research, Institute of Communications Studies, University of Leeds  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Annual CMCL Conference - Media, Communications and Public Speech
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Saturday, November 22, 2008	Visitor: Dr Katharine Sarikakis More Detail
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Saturday, November 22, 2008	Visitor: Assistant Professor Cherian George More Detail
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Saturday, November 22, 2008	Visitor: Dr Dario Milano More Detail
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Saturday, November 22, 2008	Visitor: Professor Kathy Bowrey More Detail
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Saturday, November 22, 2008	Visitor: Professor Peter Jaszi More Detail
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Saturday, November 22, 2008	Visitor: Mr Jonathan Griffiths More Detail
Wednesday, October 08, 2008	CMCL Melbourne Seminar: Privacy Law Reform and the Media Further information and registration form: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl/seminars/index-Privacy_2+8Oct.html In recent months, the NSW Law Reform Commission and Australian Law Reform Commission have been completing major inquiries into privacy law.  The ALRC report "For Your Information: Australian Privacy Law and Practice" was released in August with significant recommendations for the media and the NSW report is imminent.  Parallel with these inquiries, case law avenues to protect privacy in Australia are developing.  This seminar brings together experts from law reform, legal practice and the media to examine the implications of the law reform proposals and case law developments. Professor Michael Tilbury, Law Reform Commissioner of NSW Commentators: CMCL Seminar Melbourne - Privacy Law Reform and the Media - Matthew Ricketson, Media and Communications editor, The Age - Michael Rivette, Victoria Bar Chair: Professor Andrew Kenyon, CMCL, Melbourne Law School Space is limited--if you would like to attend, please register by Friday 3 October 2008. Further information and registration forms are available from the CMCL website at www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl/seminars/index-Privacy_2+8Oct.html Continuing Professional Development Victorian Solicitors: If this particular educational activity is relevant to your immediate or long term needs in relation to your professional development and practice of the law, then you should claim one unit for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included. Victorian Barristers: Melbourne Law School has been accredited as a suitable provider by the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Victorian Bar. The CMCL thanks its sponsors for their generous support:  Premier Sponsors Austar Corrs Chambers Westgarth Mallesons Stephen Jaques Seven Network Australia Sponsors  Allens Arthur Robinson Banki Haddock Fiora Fairfax Media Gibsons Herald & Weekly Times Piper Alderman Lawyers  Please note there is no charge for full-time academics and full-time students, sponsors and members of the CMCL Advisory Board.  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, October 02, 2008	Privacy Law Reform and the Media - Who will be protected by a private right of action?   Held in conjunction with the Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre, UNSW, as part of its full day seminar “Meeting privacy challenges-the ALRC & NSWLRC Privacy Reviews”. The CMCL-linked event is a single seminar session - to register for the full day or for more information refer to the Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre website In recent months, the NSW Law Reform Commission and Australian Law Reform Commission have been completing major inquiries into privacy law.  The ALRC report “For Your Information: Australian Privacy Law and Practice” was released in August with significant recommendations for the media and the NSW report is imminent.  Parallel with these inquiries, case law avenues to protect privacy in Australia are developing.  This seminar brings together experts from law reform, legal practice and the media to examine the implications of the law reform proposals and case law developments. Professor Michael Tilbury, Law Reform Commissioner of NSW Commentators: - Andrian Lawrence, Partner, Baker & McKenzie - Professor Megan Richardson, University of Melbourne Law School   Chair: Patrick Gunning, Partner, Mallesons Stephen Jaques  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Privacy Law Reform and the Media - Who will be protected by a private right of action?
Thursday, September 04, 2008	Better Information Security Regulation Seminar COMMENTATORS: Karin Clark, Special Counsel, Allens Arthur Robinson  Anthony Bendall, Deputy Privacy Commissioner, Victoria The severity of security problems in information technology systems and networks has become ever more visible in recent years. At the same time, the issue of what government response is appropriate remains intensely controversial. This seminar brings together a leading international authority on information security and Australian experts to review the nature, scope and severity of security problems within networked IT systems and outline US legislation and case law intended to address the problems. However, recent laws about matters such as security breach notification are poorly adapted to both the challenges facing IT system operators and the public interest in achieving an appropriate, sustainable level of security. Professor Jane Winn will suggest that the “better”, “smart” or “responsive” regulation frameworks being developed outside the US might provide a better guide for law reform internationally.    nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Better Information Security Regulation Seminar
Wednesday, April 16, 2008	Alternatives to Defamation (Sydney)  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Alternatives to Defamation (Sydney)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008	Alternatives to Defamation (Melbourne)  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Alternatives to Defamation (Melbourne)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008	Litigating Privacy: Australia and the UK (Sydney)  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Litigating Privacy: Australia and the UK (Sydney)
Thursday, March 13, 2008	Litigating Privacy: Australia and the UK (Melbourne)  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Litigating Privacy: Australia and the UK (Melbourne)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007	Marks of Disobedience  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - Friday, November 30, 2007	Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand 2007 International Conference Hosted by the University of Melbourne Law School, its Centre for Media and Communications Law and Institute for International Law and the Humanities. Papers and panels within the full range of concerns of the Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand are welcome for the 24th Australasian law and society conference. The conference theme examines questions of disciplinary, geographic, figurative and jurisdictional markings, and the organisers particularly seek contributions engaging with these issues: Sociolegal markings and boundaries Marking of borders: observing, policing Experimental markings: investigation and writing Methods and the markings of research Marking jurisdiction: sovereign and subject Textual markings: analysis of legal, political, social texts PROPOSALS FOR PAPERS AND PANELS ARE DUE 21 SEPTEMBER 2007  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand 2007 International Conference
Wednesday, November 14, 2007	UK Media Law: 2007 Update  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, November 13, 2007	UK Media Law: 2007 Update  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, August 09, 2007	Futures without Frontiers or Fuss  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, July 31, 2007	The distribution of everything: new p2p logics in production, governance, and property  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for The distribution of everything: new p2p logics in production, governance, and property
Friday, July 27, 2007	The Courts and the Media  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for The Courts and the Media
Thursday, July 19, 2007	Defamation and opinion under US and Anglo-Australian Law (Melbourne) The way in which Australian defamation law treats opinion has been a topic of wide media interest in 2007 — a critical restaurant review and High Court decision helped see to that. The High Court is due to consider further aspects of defamatory opinion in 2007, which makes it timely to examine the defence of honest opinion under Australia’s uniform defamation law and to consider how different countries deal with fact and opinion in defamation. Professor Brian Murchison will examine four problems in "The Fact-Conjecture Framework in US Libel Law" related to the intent of the speaker, the context of the publication, and conjecture or hyperbole in publications. Leading senior counsel will draw out implications for Australia in light of the new honest opinion defence: Will the uniform law help opinion? In what ways will commentators be free to speak their mind? The seminar examines key issues in current defamation law and asks what can be learned from recent decisions within Australia and internationally. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - Sunday, July 29, 2007	Visitor: Professor Brian Murchison More Detail
Tuesday, July 17, 2007	Defamation and opinion under US and Anglo-Australian Law (Sydney) The way in which Australian defamation law treats opinion has been a topic of wide media interest in 2007 — a critical restaurant review and High Court decision helped see to that. The High Court is due to consider further aspects of defamatory opinion in 2007, which makes it timely to examine the defence of honest opinion under Australia’s uniform defamation law and to consider how different countries deal with fact and opinion in defamation. Professor Brian Murchison will examine four problems in "The Fact-Conjecture Framework in US Libel Law" related to the intent of the speaker, the context of the publication, and conjecture or hyperbole in publications. Leading senior counsel will draw out implications for Australia in light of the new honest opinion defence: Will the uniform law help opinion? In what ways will commentators be free to speak their mind? The seminar examines key issues in current defamation law and asks what can be learned from recent decisions within Australia and internationally. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, July 05, 2007 - Friday, July 06, 2007	Australia and New Zealand Communication Association 2007 Conference. The conference theme is Communications, Civics, Industry and featured topics include: the role of public service media; new media distribution technologies in communication PR, advertising and civil society; and organisational, interpersonal and intercultural communication. There will also be a plenary panel on the Research Quality Framework. Keynote Speakers are Professor Toby Miller (UC Riverside) and Mr Francis Herman (CEO, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation). The call for papers is now open. Submisison deadlines are: Refereed papers and panels: deadline has been extended to 16 March 2007 Non-refereed abstracts: 27 April 2007 For further information, electronic submission and registration see the conference website. For information about the seminar Public Service Broadcasting in Asia-Pacific, please email John Tebbutt. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Australia and New Zealand Communication Association 2007 Conference.
Monday, July 02, 2007	Making Copyright Safe for Parody and Satire Fair dealing for the purpose of parody or satire is now allowed under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The exception seems to provide more ‘breathing space’ in the copyright system. But how will the conflicting interests of copyright owners and those seeking to rely on the new exception be reconciled? Drawing on jurisprudence from the United States, where the fair use defence is particularly accommodating of parodies, this seminar will explore possible implications of the new parody or satire exception. Participants: Graeme Austin, J Byron McCormick Professor of Law the University of Arizona College of Law David Brennan, Senior Lecturer, Law Faculty, The University of Melbourne David Caudill, Arthur M Goldberg Family Chair in Law at Villanova University.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Making Copyright Safe for Parody and Satire
Friday, June 29, 2007	'Know thine enemy as thyself': Discerning friendly neighbour from terrorist foe Because of the complications of distinguishing friend and foe, security and insecurity, or even war and peace, terrorism appears to be an endemic and endless risk. The embedded nature of the terrorist risk appears to demand the treatment of one's neighbour as potentially both friend and foe. One of the consequences is the application of 'all risks' policing measures, such as stop and search powers. Professor Clive Walker of the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Leeds will explore the nature and usage of the special stop and search powers since they are key to an understanding of how 'neighbour' terrorism is now being addressed within the United Kingdom and how it might be dealt with in the future in comparable jurisdictions such as Australia.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for 'Know thine enemy as thyself': Discerning friendly neighbour from terrorist foe
Thursday, June 28, 2007 - Saturday, June 30, 2007	Visitor: Professor Clive Walker More Detail
Wednesday, June 06, 2007	Switching to Digital Television: UK Experience and Lessons for Australia(Sydney) Michael Starks is an Associate in the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy at the University of Oxford and is a leading expert in the field of digital television switchover - specifically on the policies, regulations and market conditions required for whole nations to switch fully out of analogue terrestrial and into digital TV. His professional expertise in this area is complemented now by academic research. Not only is digital television technology more mature, but it is now much easier to visualise the whole digital switchover policy process, from launching new digital services through to analogue terrestrial switch-off. Therefore the risks of crisis and postponement can potentially be reduced. In this seminar Michael will draw on material from his book Switching to Digital Television and recent research digesting the experiences of the pioneers of digital switchover and spelling out the learning points for the next wave of countries due to follow. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Switching to Digital Television: UK Experience and Lessons for Australia(Sydney)
Tuesday, June 05, 2007	Switching to Digital Television: UK Experience and Lessons for Digital Australia (Melbourne) Michael Starks is an Associate in the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy at the University of Oxford and is a leading expert in the field of digital television switchover - specifically on the policies, regulations and market conditions required for whole nations to switch fully out of analogue terrestrial and into digital TV. His professional expertise in this area is complemented now by academic research. Not only is digital television technology more mature, but it is now much easier to visualise the whole digital switchover policy process, from launching new digital services through to analogue terrestrial switch-off. Therefore the risks of crisis and postponement can potentially be reduced. In this seminar Michael will draw on material from his book Switching to Digital Television and recent research digesting the experiences of the pioneers of digital switchover and spelling out the learning points for the next wave of countries due to follow. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Switching to Digital Television: UK Experience and Lessons for Digital Australia (Melbourne)
Thursday, May 24, 2007 - Friday, June 15, 2007	Visitor: Mr Michael Starks More Detail
Wednesday, April 04, 2007	The Future of Television: Legal Protection of Digital Broadcast Content – Technology, Copyright, Law Drawing on important international developments and the CMCL’s own Australian research, the event will feature academic, policy and industry experts.  Participants include Chris Hibbert, who heads the DVB subgroup which is currently developing a Content Protection and Copy Management (or CPCM) system for digital television.  Chris will discuss the rationale and industry drivers behind the DVB consortium’s decision to embark on the CPCM project.  This presentation, from a leading figure in the international TV environment, offers an invaluable opportunity to Australian media, copyright and technology lawyers and media professionals.  The forum will also include reports from CMCL staff on the findings of their research into the potential impact of technological control mechanisms for digital television, and a panel of key Australian broadcasting industry representatives on specific issues arising from any proposal for protecting digital television broadcasts in the Australian context. Full details and registration forms are available on the CMCL webiste at www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, April 04, 2007	The Future of Television: Legal Protection of Digital Broadcast Content – Technology, Copyright, Law Drawing on important international developments and the CMCL’s own Australian research, the event will feature academic, policy and industry experts.  Participants include Chris Hibbert, who heads the DVB subgroup which is currently developing a Content Protection and Copy Management (or CPCM) system for digital television.  Chris will discuss the rationale and industry drivers behind the DVB consortium’s decision to embark on the CPCM project.  This presentation, from a leading figure in the international TV environment, offers an invaluable opportunity to Australian media, copyright and technology lawyers and media professionals.  The forum will also include reports from CMCL staff on the findings of their research into the potential impact of technological control mechanisms for digital television, and a panel of key Australian broadcasting industry representatives on specific issues arising from any proposal for protecting digital television broadcasts in the Australian context. Full details and registration forms are available on the CMCL website at www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, December 07, 2006 - Friday, December 08, 2006	Corporate Governance Workshop  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, August 30, 2006	Melbourne Book launch: Defamation: Comparative Law and Practice Defamation: Comparative Law and Practice investigates defamation law and litigation practice in England, Australia and the US.  The book combines close legal analysis and extensive empirical research to examine two central aspects of defamation law.  The first is the significant role that a publication's meaning plays in defamation law and practice, especially in England and Australia. The second concerns the ways in which media speech is protected by qualified privilege in England and Australia, and by constitutional rules that have developed since New York Times v Sullivan in the US. For contents pages, a sample chapter and further information see www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl There is no charge to attend this launch, but for the purposes of catering please email Amy Harrington a.harrington@unimelb.edu.au if you wish to attend.  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, August 23, 2006	Sydney Book Launch - Defamation: Comparative Law and Practice Defamation: Comparative Law and Practice investigates defamation law and litigation practice in England, Australia and the US.  The book combines close legal analysis and extensive empirical research to examine two central aspects of defamation law.  The first is the significant role that a publication's meaning plays in defamation law and practice, especially in England and Australia. The second concerns the ways in which media speech is protected by qualified privilege in England and Australia, and by constitutional rules that have developed since New York Times v Sullivan in the US. For contents pages, a sample chapter and ordering information see www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl There is no charge to attend this launch, but for the purposes of catering please email Amy Harrington a.harrington@unimelb.edu.au if you wish to attend.  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Monday, August 21, 2006 - Friday, August 25, 2006	Visitor: Professor Jane Winn More Detail
Wednesday, August 02, 2006	Public Lecture - Georgina Born In this lecture Georgina Born will outline the history of the BBC and discuss how the BBC will fare in the future, given the unending crusades by its commercial and political antagonists against its existence, and the rising stakes for Britain's pluralist democracy in an era of continuing media expansion. From September 2006 Georgina Born will be Professor of Sociology, Anthropology and Music in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Cambridge University. She is a leading authority on media policy, the BBC and Public Service Broadcasting in the UK and Europe and is the author of numerous articles, chapters and policy papers as well as the influential book: Uncertain Vision: Birt, Dyke and the Reinvention of the BBC.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Public Lecture - Georgina Born
Monday, July 17, 2006	Law in the Age of Images: Theory, Practice, and Pedagogy This workshop will feature examples of how digital and other visual images are changing the ways in which lawyers present evidence and arguments. We will also discuss how legal experts as well as the lay public may cultivate the critical visual intelligence needed to participate effectively in this new legal culture.  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, July 13, 2006 - Friday, July 14, 2006	Passages: Law, Aesthetics, Politics PASSAGES brings together interdisciplinary scholars working across media and genres - including photography, film, literature, painting, digital technologies - and those working more broadly at the intersections of law and aesthetics.  In the tradition of the Law and Literature Association of Australia, this conference is committed to critical and theoretical analysis responding to the contemporary political conditions in which we live and work. PASSAGES evokes movements of voyage and migration, tradition and translation, appropriation and transformation, right and ritual, border crossing and transgression, surveillance and forgetting, territory and terror, verdict and sentence, enactment and performance.  In sum, the conference is an invitation to address question of politics and aesthetics, life and law. An information flyer is now available. Full details about abstracts, papers, registration, travel and accommodation are available at the conference web site.   nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Passages: Law, Aesthetics, Politics
Monday, July 10, 2006 - Tuesday, July 18, 2006	Visitor: Ms Maria Aristodemou More Detail
Monday, July 10, 2006 - Tuesday, July 18, 2006	Visitor: Professor Richard Sherwin More Detail
Wednesday, June 28, 2006	Protecting journalists' sources: US lessons for Australia? Professor Smolla will analyse dramatic recent events in the US involving journalists, sources and jail.  The lessons from the US are particularly timely given the planned introduction of limited statutory protection for journalists' sources throughout Australia. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Protecting journalists' sources: US lessons for Australia?
Thursday, May 18, 2006	Regulating Religious Vilification The CMCL and the CCCS are co-hosting a public seminar entitled Regulating Religious Vilification. The introduction of religious vilification legislation in countries post-September 11 poses a range of issues regarding religious sensitivity and freedom of expression. This is a particularly pressing issue in Victoria in relation to its Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001. Is such legislation effective? Does legislation requiring religious toleration lead to intolerance of other beliefs or undermine multiculturalism? Does a human rights analysis assist in resolving some of these issues? This paper will address these questions with reference to some such laws worldwide, but with particular reference to the legislation in Victoria and recent religious hatred legislation in the United Kingdom. Dermot Feenan is a Lecturer in the School of Law, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland and is Visiting Fellow at the University of Melbourne in May 2006. He is currently researching Victoria's racial and religious tolerance law. This research will be presented at the "Law, Religion and Social Change" conference in Canberra, 26-27 May For further information see http://www.law.unimelb.edu.au/cmcl or http://cccs.law.unimelb.edu.au  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, May 16, 2006	Cross-Border Communications: Legal Liability and Dispute Resolution Roundtable Seminar The purpose of this seminar is to exchange information and ideas on current and emerging issues arising out of cross-border communications in a high-technology age, particularly as they affect the media.  We are very pleased to offer a wide program of short presentations with a range of international experts. There will be opportunity for discussion at the end of each session, continuing over lunch. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Cross-Border Communications: Legal Liability and Dispute Resolution Roundtable Seminar
Tuesday, May 16, 2006	Cross-Border Communications: Legal Liability and Dispute Resolution We are very pleased to offer a wide program of short presentations with a range of international experts, including:  Richard Garnett, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne and Consultant, Freehills, on "An Overview of Choice of Law, Jurisdiction and Foreign Judgment Enforcement in IP and Communications Disputes" Graeme Austin, J Byron McCormick Professor, James E Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona on "Exporting Grokster, importing Kazaa" Sam Ricketson, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne, on "Trade Mark Liability Issues  Arising out of Internet Advertising" Kim Weatherall, Lecturer and Associate Director Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia, The University of Melbourne, on "Can Substantive Law Harmonisation and Technology Provide Genuine Alternatives to Conflicts Rules?" Matt Collins, Victorian Bar, on "Defamation and Privacy on the Internet" Campbell McLachlan, Professor of Law, Victoria University of Wellington, on “From Savigny to Cyberspace – is the Conflict of Laws Method Still Relevant?” Megan Richardson, Associate Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne, Concluding Comments There will be opportunity for discussion at the end of each session, continuing over lunch.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Cross-Border Communications: Legal Liability and Dispute Resolution
Monday, May 15, 2006 - Friday, May 19, 2006	Visitor: Professor Graeme Austin More Detail
Monday, May 15, 2006 - Friday, May 19, 2006	Visitor: Professor Campbell McLachlan More Detail
Monday, May 15, 2006	Book Launch: Internet Governance: Asia Pacific Perspectives "Internet Governance: Asia Pacific Perspectives" summarises key debates in internet governance from those involved in policy-making. It provides detailed analysis of critical issues such as spam, wireless technologies, security, multilingualism, and cultural diversity in the Asia-Pacific region. The project was funded by the Asia-Pacific Development Information Program (IPDIP) which is an initiative of the United Nations Development Program. The launch will feature a presentation from Danny Butt and commentary by Dr Terry Cutler. Danny Butt has over 12 years experience working in new media as an editor, researcher, designer, educator, and consultant - including consulting and strategy work for leading Australasian media companies. His recent work focuses on the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and creative industries for social, cultural and economic development in the Asia Pacific. Terry Cutler is a leading consultant in information and communications technology who, among many public roles, sits on the board of the CSIRO and Victorian government's Innovation Economy Advisory Council.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Book Launch: Internet Governance: Asia Pacific Perspectives
Thursday, May 04, 2006	Protecting digital television: Copyright controls & viewers The transition to digital broadcasting in the United States has been slow since Congress authorized the switch a decade ago. Copyright owners fear that broadcasting unprotected digital programming will result in content being copied and distributed widely on the Internet, similar to the file-sharing phenomenon of .mp3 audio files. In 2003, the Federal Communication Commission tried to mandate that consumer electronics equipment recognize and enforce the 'broadcast flag', a digital code designed to restrict copying and distribution of digital broadcasts. An appeals court struck down the FCC’s rule, but Congress is currently considering bills to grant the FCC the proper authority or to regulate directly. Consumer advocates argue the proposed rules will restrict innovation and give copyright owners remote control over consumers. Can Congress craft a response that provides adequate technological protection for content owners without destroying the balance between control and access? Tune in to find out!  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, April 19, 2006	Public Seminar: Protecting & Exploiting Television Formats This seminar addresses some of the core legal and business issues that arise in format infringement disputes, takes a tour through recent cases from around the world, and considers what overall lessons can be learnt for protecting TV formats.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Public Seminar: Protecting & Exploiting Television Formats
Wednesday, April 19, 2006	Protecting and Exploiting Television formats The biggest news in TV this decade has been the rise of formatted entertainment in broadcast schedules globally. However, as format-based programming has become so financially significant for developers, producers and channels, allegations of format theft have become ever louder and more regular. This seminar addresses some of the core legal and business issues that arise in format infringement disputes, takes a tour through recent cases from around the world, and considers what overall lessons can be learnt for protecting TV formats. There will be a seminar in Melbourne at the Melbourne Law School on 19 April and in Sydney at Deacons on 20 April 2006.  Further information and registration forms are available now: Melbourne and Sydney nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Protecting and Exploiting Television formats
Monday, April 10, 2006 - Friday, May 12, 2006	Visitor: Associate Professor Matt Jackson More Detail
Thursday, December 01, 2005 - Friday, December 02, 2005	MediaCommLaw 2005 A dinner will be held on Thursday 1 December 2005 at Graduate House. All sessions will take place on Friday 2 December in the Melbourne Law School.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for MediaCommLaw 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005	Communication Service Providers: Criminal liability, forensics and investigation Ian Walden is Head of the Institute of Computer and Communications Law and Associate Director of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London. Ian teaches on four courses on the University of London 's LLM programme: Information Technology Law, Telecommunications Law, Internet Law and General Media Law. He is Course Director for the LLM in Computer and Communications Law by Distance Learning. Ian has been involved in law reform projects for the World Bank, the European Commission, UNCTAD and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, as well as for a number of individual states. In 1995-96, Ian was seconded to the European Commission, as a National Expert in electronic commerce law, and he is a member of the Legal Advisory Board to the Information Society Directorate-General of the European Commission. Ian is admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales and is a consultant to the global law firm Baker & McKenzie (www.bakernet.com) and is a Public Interest Board Member of the Internet Watch Foundation (www.iwf.org.uk).  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Communication Service Providers: Criminal liability, forensics and investigation
Friday, August 26, 2005	Copyright, Digitisation and Cultural Institutions Conference 2005 The conference is a joint initiative of the CMCL, IPRIA, Museums Australia, and a number of cultural organisations, including the State Library of Victoria. It will be launched by the Honourable Mary Delahunty, Victorian Minister for the Arts, and Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, State Librarian and CEO of the State Library of Victoria. The conference will provide staff at cultural institutions with practical information about key copyright issues relating to the digitisation of collection material. The conference will also see the launch of Guidelines to assist staff at cultural institutions manage copyright issues.  nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Copyright, Digitisation and Cultural Institutions Conference 2005
Tuesday, March 01, 2005	CMCL Seminar: Defamation Law and Journalism  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, August 03, 2004	CMCL Privacy Seminar: Campbell and Hosking - Implications for Australia Privacy is one of the most important issues in the media's future in Australia and comparable legal jurisdictions. This CMCL seminar will explore the Australian implications of two recent appellate decisions: Campbell v MGN Ltd (UK House of Lords) and Hosking v Runting (NZ Court of Appeal). Keynote speaker Gavin Phillipson is one of the CMCL's 2004 Research Visitors. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Law and the Assistant Director of the Human Rights Centre, University of Durham, United Kingdom. He has an impressive publication record in human rights, privacy, media freedom and breach of confidence, and his work has been cited with approval by courts involved in both the Campbell and Hosking litigation. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for CMCL Privacy Seminar: Campbell and Hosking - Implications for Australia
Monday, July 26, 2004 - Sunday, August 15, 2004	Visitor: Mr Gavin Phillipson More Detail
Thursday, May 27, 2004	CMCL Seminar - Protecting Celebrities: The Right of Publicity in the US and Australia This seminar brings together leading commentators from practice and academia, with extensive experience of celebrity deals in the US and Australia Professor Caudill, who represented NFL football star Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos in numerous endorsement and licensing deals, will discuss US variations on the right of publicity, which is recognised in half the states under common law or statute. The US right of publicity is often seen as generous, but it has some notable limitations and Australia's protective alternatives are often as effective. Some of the US situation's complexities relate to artistic expression and free speech, commercial exploitation of celebrities, 'likeness' trademarks and consumer confusion. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for CMCL Seminar - Protecting Celebrities: The Right of Publicity in the US and Australia
Wednesday, February 25, 2004	CMCL Seminar - Uniform Defamation Law? Recent state law reform proposals and the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General have revived longstanding calls for uniform Australian defamation law. This seminar will bring together academic experts, media professionals and practicing lawyers to address key issues in defamation law and litigation practice. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, February 05, 2004	Seminar: Why There Will Never be a Common Law Privacy Tort. Professor Wacks, one of the world's leading commentators on privacy law, will consider issues facing common law courts in developing legal responses for the protection of privacy, including an analysis of recent English, Australian and New Zealand decisions. In particular, problems facing the courts in the context of free speech and the media will be examined. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Saturday, December 13, 2003 - Monday, January 19, 2004	Visitor: Dr Karen Yeung More Detail
Thursday, December 11, 2003	CMCL Seminar - Rendering Copyright Unto Caesar: Free Speech, Locke and the Sphere of Gift Professor Wendy Gordon, Boston University, will address the end of year celebration of the Centre for Media and Communications Law and the Australian Law and Economics Association. Professor Gordon has written extensively on copyright law, economic analysis of law and freedom of speech and is a popular public speaker. Her presentation will be followed by general discussion. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for CMCL Seminar - Rendering Copyright Unto Caesar: Free Speech, Locke and the Sphere of Gift
Thursday, November 13, 2003	CMCL Seminar: The Future of Privacy Protection. This is the third in a series of three seminars run by the Centre for Media and Communications Law which examine current and future issues in privacy law and regulation. Four panellists will consider the future of privacy protection, followed by further discussion from the floor.. Panelists: David Lindsay and Assoc Prof Megan Richardson, Centre for Media and Communications Law; Professor Graham Greenleaf, Baker & McKenzie Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre, University of NSW; Mark Sneddon, Partner, Clayton Utz. Flyer and Registration Fee Information  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, October 16, 2003	CMCL Seminar - Privacy and Constitutions This is the second in a series of three seminars run by the Centre for Media and Communications Law which examine current and future issues in privacy law and regulation. What differences do constitutions make to privacy protection? As someone well versed in the practical implications of constitutions, Sir Kenneth Keith will address this question from an international and comparative perspective. Speaker: The Rt Honourable Sir Kenneth Keith, Judge, Court of Appeal of New Zealand, and member of the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission. Commentators: The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby, High Court of Australia and Professor Geoff Lindell, Faculty of Law, The University of Melbourne. Flyer and Registration Fee Information  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, September 25, 2003	CMCL Seminar - Privacy and Freedom of Speech This is the first in a series of three seminars run by the Centre for Media and Communications Law which examine current and future issues in privacy law and regulation. Conventional thinking holds that privacy and freedom of speech inevitably conflict. Professor Barendt challenges that thinking and argues that some activities, including monitoring of the Internet, impinge on privacy and free speech. Essentially, their values go hand in hand. Speaker: Professor Eric Barendt, University College London. Commentators: Paul Chadwick, Victorian Privacy Commissioner, and Jon Faine, ABC Radio Victoria. Flyer and Registration Fee Information [pdf].  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, April 02, 2003	CMCL Public Seminar - Defamation and the Internet after Dow Jones v Gutnick Information  nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, December 13, 2001	Freedom of Speech in the Copyright Domain: The "Wind Done Gone" Case and some Australian Comparisons This is a free public seminar sponsored by the Centre for Media, Communications and Information Technology Law and the Law Faculty, the University of Melbourne, in conjunction with the Australian Law and Economics Association. The African American author Alice Randall said she would prefer to have been "born blind" rather than have read Gone With The Wind. That novel, which romanticizes the slave-owning American South, is parodied and critiqued in Randall's own new book, The Wind Done Gone. In a controversial ruling, a US District Court issued a preliminary injunction that took Randall's book off the shelves, on the ground that The Wind Done Gone constituted an unauthorized sequel infringing the copyright in Gone With The Wind. In Suntrust Bank v Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001 US APP LEXIS 21690, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned that order. It ruled that, at the preliminary injunction stage, the publisher of The Wind Done Gone was entitled to rely on the fair use defence under US copyright law, taking into account its role in promoting freedom of speech (as mandated by the US Constitution). The seminar will provide an opportunity for analysis and discussion of The Wind Done Gone case led by a leading American expert on copyright fair use, Wendy Gordon, Professor of Law, Boston University. Keynote Speaker Wendy Gordon is a Professor of Law and the Paul J Laicos Scholar in Law at Boston University School of Law. She is a well-known public speaker on issues concerning copyright law, economic analysis of law, and freedom of speech. She has had published many influential articles in the field, including ‘An Inquiry into the Merits of Copyright: The Challenges of Consistency, Consent and Encouragement Theory’ (1989) 41 Stanford Law Review 1343 and ‘Fair Use as Market Failure: A Structural and Economic Analysis of the Betamax Case and its Predecessors’ (1982) 82 Columbia Law Review 1600. The last article was cited and relied on by the US Supreme Court in Sony Corporation of America v Universal City Studios Inc 464 US 417. Professor Gordon is working on a new book on the economics and ethics of intellectual property law. Commentators Sally Wiant, Professor of Law and Law Librarian, Washington and Lee University Sally Wiant is the Law Librarian and a Professor of Law at the School of Law, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. Her particular fields of expertise and publication are copyright law and trade mark law. As a Southern American, as well as a copyright expert and law librarian, Professor Wiant will be offering some unique local insights into The Wind Done Gone case. David Brennan, Law Faculty, The University of Melbourne David Brennan is a Research Fellow in the Law Faculty at The University of Melbourne where he teaches copyright law. He has written widely on subjects relating to intellectual property law and law and economics and has made several submissions to the Australian government on law reform matters, including the recent digital agenda reforms, as well as contributing on topical issues to The Age. David is a consultant to Screenrights - The Audio-Visual Copyright Society. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, November 29, 2001	INTERNET LAW SEMINAR & BOOK LAUNCH Liability for Linking to Defamatory Material Dr Matthew Collins reported on recent international developments concerning defamation via the Internet. Dr Collins concentrated on one of the hottest emerging issues in the field of Internet law: potential liability for creating hyperlinks to defamatory material created by third parties. Dr Collins' book, "The Law of Defamation & the Internet", was launched at this seminar by The Honourable John J Hedigan QC, who recently retired from the Supreme Court of Victoria. His last case on the bench was the Internet defamation decision in Gutnick v Dow Jones & Co Inc (2001) VCS 205 (28 Aug 2001). Dr Matthew Collins is a Melbourne barrister who specialises in defamation and technology law. Dr Collins completed his PhDat the Faculty of Law at the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Professor Sally Walker, well-known authority on defamation law and founding Director of the Centre for Media, Communications & Information Technology Law. "The Law of Defamation & the Internet" by Dr Matthew Collins is the first text to comprehensively analyse how the rules of Anglo-Australian defamation law apply, or are likely to apply, to material published via the Internet. The book deals with challenging new areas of defamation law, including: liability for defamatory emails, newsgroup postings and web pages; liability of intermediaries such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs); and the particular problems caused by the global nature of the medium, including the application of jurisdiction and choice of law rules. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, July 03, 2001	Intellectual Property in the Knowledge Economy The development of the knowledge economy has been accompanied by a significant increase in the economic and social importance of intellectual property rights (IPRs), including copyright, patent and trade mark protection. The central role of IPRs in the new global economy poses fundamental challenges for the future development of intellectual property (IP) laws. The most important challenges include: adjusting IP laws to the economic conditions of global markets; reconciling IPRs with other areas of public policy, including competition policy; servicing global markets for IP products; and dealing with new claims for protection in areas such as information technology, biotechnology and traditional knowledge. Dr Gurry outlined the current challenges, explain the emerging national and international responses and evaluate possible approaches to resolving the most pressing problems. Registration form nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, May 24, 2001	WIPO Regional Consultation A regional consultation organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) to discuss the issues in the Second WIPO Process with interested parties. Comments submitted at the consultation, as well as those submitted via the web site, will be taken into account in the recommendations made in WIPO's Final Report - expected to be published in mid-2001 - that will be submitted to WIPO's Member States and provided to the Internet community, including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Participation is welcome from the public and private sectors, representatives of industry and the business community, intellectual property practitioners and academics, Internet engineering and public interest groups. More information and program nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, May 22, 2001	Madrid Protocol Information Workshops From 11 July 2001 Australian trade mark owners can file an international application through IP Australia and seek protection for their trade mark in any or all of the other 50 Madrid Protocol countries. In addition to the information session on 21 May 2001, IP Australia held free workshops for members of the legal profession, particularly those who will be advising others on issues relating to filing international applications under the Protocol. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Monday, May 21, 2001	Madrid Protocol Information Session From 11 July 2001 Australian trade mark owners can file an international application through IP Australia and seek protection for their trade mark in any or all of the other 50 Madrid Protocol countries. IP Australia held this free information session to increase awareness and knowledge of the Madrid Protocol. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Thursday, March 22, 2001	The Exclusive Right to their Writings: Compensation vs Control in the Digital Age Critics assert that new copyright amendments in the US (provisions of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act) vest copyright owners with a power of 'control' that is fundamentally at odds with the copyright scheme articulated in the US Constitution and implemented through 200 years of copyright legislation. Professor Jane Ginsburg, Columbia University Law School, contended that the US Constitution embodies the concept of author control. Lecture Transcript nbsp; More Detail of Event
Monday, February 05, 2001	Contracting in the Film & Entertainment Industry: Some US-Australian Comparisons Professor Victor Goldberg, Columbia University, began with some comments about price and other terms commonly used in US entertainment contracts, and the practical economic rationale for such terms. The focus then moved to the Australian scene with Jonathan Gill, Special Counsel, Francis Abourisz Lightowlers, contrasting the receptiveness of Australian broadcasters and audiences to US-origin films against the (general) non-receptiveness of the US market to Australian made films, and commenting on the economic and other reasons for this phenomenon. A spirited discussion ensued as to the efficiency and general desirability of local content rules. The third speaker was the Law School’s Andrew Kenyon who introduced a new subject into the debate with some observations about Australia’s new moral rights legislation. This led into a broader discussion about the likely effect of these new rights (given to authors) on film and entertainment contracts and the industry in general. Presented by the Australian Law & Economics Association and the Centre for Media, Communications and Information Technology Law. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Tuesday, November 14, 2000	Briefing on Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000 The Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000 (Cth), which was passed in August, contains the most extensive changes to copyright law since the introduction of the current Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The legislation amends copyright law to take into account new technologies for using and disseminating copyright material, such as the Internet. It attempts to extend the existing balances between copyright owners and users to the digtal environment. Amongst other matters, the legislation: introduces a new right of communication to the public; extends existing exceptions, such as fair dealing and exceptions for libraries and archives; introduces new enforcement provisions prohibiting technologies for circumventing copyright; and clarifies the circumstances in which carriers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be liable for copyright infringement. The seminar will consist of a joint briefing on the legislation from the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department and Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, followed by an analysis from leading commentators (Professor Sam Ricketson, Barrister and David Brennan, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne. This represents an opportunity to become familiar with this important new legislation, which will come into effect early next year. nbsp; More Detail of Event Related Web Site for Briefing on Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000
Monday, March 27, 2000	The Implications for Australia of the Microsoft Litigation In United States v Microsoft, it has been argued that Microsoft breached American Anti-Trust Law by tying its Windows operating system to its web browser. This could result in a decision leading to the break-up of Microsoft. The speaker was Professor Philip Williams who is the Professor of Management (Law & Economics) at the Melbourne Business School and a member of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Media, Communications and Information Technology Law. He is recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia's Leading commentators on trade practices matters and has appeared as an expert witness in leading Australian and New Zealand trade practices cases. nbsp; More Detail of Event
Wednesday, November 03, 1999	Self-Regulation of the Media The current trend in relation to the regulation of the media is towards "self-regulation". This conference examined the success of the self-regulation of media content in relation to the press and broadcasting, and evaluated the lessons to be learned from this in relation to self-regulation of the Internet. nbsp; More Detail of Event