Education sector advice

Under the leadership of Philip Crisp, AGS Special Counsel Commercial, we have developed a specialist practice advising the education sector on legal issues (especially copyright) arising from the use of IT and communications technologies.

AGS has been involved over several years in the conception, development and implementation of an innovative solution for web-based copyright management called AEShareNet. (Information about this initiative is available on the AEShareNet website.) During 2003–04, we helped AEShareNet Limited to develop and launch a new ‘open content’ licence – the ‘Free-for-Education’ licence. Under the scheme, a certification mark can be applied by copyright owners such as website proprietors to signify that the material may be used by an individual or organisation for educational purposes.

The Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) sought our advice regarding educational copyright issues that should be addressed in the context of the current review of the ‘Digital Agenda’ provisions of the Copyright Act. The brief was subsequently expanded to include AGS appearing at public hearings to represent DEST views. In the course of this work, we consulted extensively with other educational interest groups.

The Learning Federation (TLF, a joint venture of two ministerially controlled companies) engaged AGS to help it develop comprehensive licensing arrangements for the sharing of digital learning materials in schools. This involved facilitating a number of workshops, which succeeded in achieving consensus between TLF and government schools’ representatives throughout Australia and New Zealand on the terms under which TLF content may be used.