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Parallel importing and CD piracy: consultant's report prepared for the Intellectual Property and Competition Review Committee

Gregor Urbas

In: Review of intellectual property legislation under the Competition Principles Agreement : final report by the Intellectual Property and Competition Review Committee to Senator the Hon Nicholas Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources and the Hon Daryl Williams, Attorney General.
ISBN 0642 70508 9
Canberra: IP Australia
Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2000

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Abstract

In mid 1998 the Copyright Amendment Act (No. 2) 1998 was passed to allow for parallel importing of sound recordings. Opponents of this legislative change predicted negative consequences of market liberalisation, including an increase in levels of CD piracy. This paper assesses the impact of the legislation to date on piracy and counterfeiting. While the focus is on CD piracy, the issues raised are relevant to other forms of product covered by intellectual property rights.