The Copyright Tribunal last week handed down its decision on the rate payable by the New South Wales Government for its use of survey plans.

The decision follows lengthy litigation between Copyright Agency and the NSW Government. Among other issues, Copyright Agency argued that the use of survey plans was subject to a remunerated statutory licence whereas the Government argued that it had a free implied licence to use the plans.

The case culminated in a 2008 High Court decision in the Copyright Agency’s favour – the result being that Government did have to remunerate rights holders for its use of the plans.

For more information on the Copyright Tribunal’s decision visit: http://www.copyright.org.au/news-and-policy/details/id/2192/.

For more information on the 2008 High Court decision, you can read the Australian Copyright Council’s coverage here. http://copyright.org.au/news-and-policy/details/id/1737/.