Emerson this week floated a “compromise” plan over the Commission’s controversial recommendations which would involve maintaining PIRs but require local publishers to make new release books available simultaneously with their overseas release.
However, Printing Industries chief executive officer Philip Andersen (pictured) has savaged the proposal.
“The Minister’s solution to retain the territorial copyright provisions in name, but require local copyright holders to publish immediately, abandoning the 30 day provision, is an unworkable sham,” he said.
“On one hand, the copyright window of opportunity for local publishers to produce titles before being displaced by imports would be retained, but on the other hand the Minister is saying the titles must be produced ‘immediately’ instead of within the current 30-day period.
“Such a provision may work with blockbuster novels such as the Harry Potter books, where local copyright negotiations with overseas copyright holders are completed globally many months in advance and large print volumes provide access to print capacity, but for titles with print runs of less than 10,000 copies, this is unworkable.”
“Firstly, a local publisher vying to become the local copyright holder has to negotiate with their overseas counterparts’ licensing arrangements, then arrange for the files to be transferred, change the files as required for the Australian market, organise the printing, warehousing and distribution of the books, the marketing and launch – all within 30 days.
“While we sincerely welcome Mr Emerson’s time to meet with the authors, publishers and ourselves, it has only served to highlight the Minister’s single-minded attitude to support the bureaucracy against any practical solution proffered by the affected industries and against the overwhelming sentiment of the community.”
A report in The Australian this week claimed that the majority of federal cabinet opposed dropping the 30-day rule, with Industry Minister Kim Carr, Arts Minister Peter Garrett, Attorney-General Robert McClelland, Regional Development Minister Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Chris Evans cited as amongst those opposing the move. Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen is believed to have supported Emerson’s position.
In a speech at the Printing Industries CEO Forum in August, Carr discussed the Commission’s recommendations briefly, though would not be drawn on his personal stance, saying that he was unable to comment on internal Cabinet matters.
The Commission recommended that the federal government repeal PIRs for books in a much-anticipated report released in July, acknowledging that printers would have to make “adjustments” as a consequence.
Printing Industries‘ national manager for policy and government affairs Hagop Tchamkertenian reiterated the association’s claim that such reform would be harmful to the book printing and publishing industries.
“The 30-day rule had worked efficiently over many years to deliver a wide range of books in a timely and competitive manner to Australian book readers, as well as helping maintain an Australian book printing industry,” he said.
“If the government wants to change something, then they could look at the 90-day rule which applies to existing/published book titles. This time-frame could be significantly reduced because it operates in different market conditions.
“But Mr Emerson’s proposal will mean that less popular foreign books that are unlikely to become best sellers will struggle to be published locally because no publisher or printer will be able to wave a magic wand to miraculously complete copyright negotiation, production and distribution immediately.”
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