Australia’s Parliament Passes Copyright Bill That Unlocks Orphan Works

SYDNEY — Australia’s federal government has passed the Copyright Amendment Bill, a piece of legislation that introduces for the first time an “orphan works” scheme, which should provide greater legal certainty when working with copyright material where the owner is unknown or unlocatable. The Copyright Amendment Bill 2026 amends the Copyright Act 1968, and delivers two important reforms — the product of years of careful consultation.

Related 'That's What This Is All About': Kevin Lyman on 30 Years of Vans Warped Tour and What Comes Next Jessica Lynch The first, relating to orphan works, provides certainty with works where copyright owners can’t be identified or located, which its supporters say will benefit researchers, educators, cultural institutions and the wider community. According to a statement from the Albanese government, the scheme provides “reasonable scope” for copyright owners to step forward and assert their rights in the rare case an owner is later identified.

The search requirements under the scheme may also help reunite copyright owners with works that have unintentionally become orphaned and allow them to once again benefit from their...