Copyright Act 1963

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No. 7 of 1963.

An Act to amend the Copyright Act 1912–1950.

[Assented to 14th May, 1963.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Copyright Act 1963.

(2.) The Copyright Act 1912–1950 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Copyright Act 1912–1963.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Voluntary arbitration in dispute concerning public performance of works.

3. Section thirteen a of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting after sub-section (3.) the following subsection:—

“(3a.) Unless the submission otherwise provides, the arbitrator shall make his award in writing within three months after receiving the submission, but the arbitrator may extend the time for making the award

(whether fixed by the submission or by this subsection) either before or after the expiration of the time originally applicable.”; and

(b) by omitting sub-sections (5.), (6.), (7.) and (8.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-sections:—

“(5.) The arbitrator may—

(a) summon witnesses;

(b) require the production of documents or articles; and

“(6.) The arbitrator may, at any stage of the proceedings, and shall if so directed by the Court, state, in the form of a special case for the opinion of the Court, any question of law arising in the course of the arbitration. The opinion of the Court shall be embodied in an order of the Court and that order is binding on the arbitrator and the parties to the arbitration.

“(7.) The costs of the arbitration shall be in the discretion of the arbitrator who may, by his award, direct by and to whom, and in what manner, those costs or a part of those costs are or is to be paid and may, if he thinks fit, tax or settle the amount of the costs to be so paid.

“(8.) Costs directed by the arbitrator to be paid to a party may be recovered by that party in any court of competent jurisdiction.

“(9.) The Court may remove the arbitrator if he has been guilty of misconduct.

“(10.) If the arbitrator dies, becomes incapable of acting or is removed by the Court, a new arbitrator may be appointed by agreement between the parties, or, in default of agreement, by the Governor-General.

“(11.) Unless the submission otherwise provides, the arbitrator has power to correct in an award a clerical mistake or an error arising from an accidental slip or omission.

“(12.) The Court may set the award of the arbitrator aside if the arbitrator has been guilty of misconduct or the award has been improperly procured.

“(13.) The Court may, on the application of a party to the arbitration proceedings, by order, remit an award, or part of an award, to the arbitrator for reconsideration if it is satisfied that—

(a) there is a defect or error on the face of the award;

(b) the arbitrator has made a mistake in the award and desires to correct it;

(c) material evidence that could not with reasonable diligence have been discovered before the award was made has since been discovered; or

(d) there has been misconduct on the part of the arbitrator.

“(14.) The Court shall not exercise its powers under the last preceding sub-section unless the application is made within the period of six weeks after the award was made or within such extended period as the Court has, either before or after the expiration of that period of six weeks, allowed for the making of the application.

“(15.) Where an award or part of an award is remitted by the Court for reconsideration—

(a) the arbitrator shall, unless the order remitting the award or part of the award otherwise directs, make his award on the reconsideration within three months after the making of that order; and

(b) the provisions of sub-sections (4.) to (14.) (inclusive) of this section apply, so far as they are applicable, in relation to the reconsideration and an award made on the reconsideration.

“(16.) Copyright in any work or record in respect of which the dispute has arisen is not infringed by the performance of the work in public, or the use of the record for public performance, by a party to the arbitration or a person claiming through or under such a party if—

(a) payment for the right so to perform the work or use the record is made at the rates and in the method determined by the arbitrator in pursuance of this section; and

(b) the performance of the work or the use of the record is in accordance with the terms and conditions so determined.

“(17.) In this section—

‘person’ includes a company, association or body of persons;

‘the Court’ means the High Court.

“(18.) The regulations may prescribe matters for and in relation to—

(a) the fees payable to an arbitrator selected or appointed under this section; and

(b) the practice and procedure in arbitration proceedings under this section to the extent that those matters are not provided for by the preceding provisions of this section.”.

4. After section thirteen a of the Principal Act the following section is inserted in Part II.:—

Disobedience to summons, failure to produce documents, &c., an offence.

“13b.—(1.) A person who has been summoned under the last preceding section to appear as a witness before an arbitrator shall not, without lawful excuse, and after tender of reasonable expenses, fail to appear in obedience to the summons.

“(2.) A person who has been required by an arbitrator under the last preceding section to produce a document or article shall not, without lawful excuse, and after tender of reasonable expenses, fail to produce the document or article.

“(3.) A person who appears before an arbitrator in proceedings under the last preceding section shall not, without lawful excuse, refuse to be sworn or to make an affirmation, or to produce documents or articles, or to answer questions, which he is required by the arbitrator to produce or answer.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.”.

Application of amendments.

5. The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, extends to and in relation to an arbitration pending at the commencement of this Act.

Overview

The Copyright Act 1963 was enacted to amend the existing Copyright Act 1912–1950, addressing gaps in the legislative framework to better regulate the rights of copyright holders, particularly concerning the public performance of works. This Act was assented to on 14th May 1963 by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. One of the primary objectives of this legislation was to introduce enhanced mechanisms for resolving disputes through voluntary arbitration, ensuring that such processes are both efficient and fair. The Act establishes detailed procedures for arbitration, including timelines for arbitrators to make awards, the powers and responsibilities of the arbitrator, and the role of the Court in overseeing the arbitration process. Additionally, it outlines penalties for non-compliance with arbitration orders, thereby reinforcing the authority and efficacy of arbitration in resolving copyright disputes. The Copyright Act 1963 also ensures that the arbitration process is flexible and can adapt to the needs of the parties involved, with provisions for correcting errors, remitting awards for reconsideration, and addressing misconduct by arbitrators. By providing a structured yet adaptable framework, the Act aims to protect the rights of copyright holders while facilitating timely and equitable dispute resolution.

Scope and Application

The Copyright Act 1963, as amended by this Act, applies to disputes concerning the public performance of works, which includes persons, entities, and bodies of persons. The jurisdiction of the Act extends to the Commonwealth of Australia, and its provisions apply nationwide. The Act's amendments primarily concern the arbitration process for disputes, establishing the powers of arbitrators, the role of the Court, and the procedure for resolving issues related to the public performance of works. Notably, the Act specifies that copyright in any work or record in dispute is not infringed if the performance is in accordance with the terms and conditions determined by the arbitrator, provided payment is made at the rates and in the method set by the arbitrator. The Act also outlines penalties for failing to comply with summons, producing documents, or answering questions during arbitration proceedings. The amendments extend to arbitrations pending at the time of the Act's commencement, ensuring that ongoing disputes are governed by the updated provisions.

Key Provisions

The Copyright Act 1963 (C1963A00007) introduces several amendments to the existing Copyright Act 1912–1950, which is now referred to as the Principal Act. The amendments focus primarily on the arbitration of disputes concerning the public performance of works, as well as the procedural aspects of such arbitrations. The Act mandates that an arbitrator must provide a written award within three months of receiving the submission, unless the submission specifies otherwise, and grants the arbitrator the ability to extend this time limit (Section 3(3a)). The new provisions also outline the powers and responsibilities of the arbitrator, including the ability to summon witnesses, require the production of documents, and receive evidence on oath or affirmation (Section 3(5)). Furthermore, the arbitrator has the discretion to determine the costs of the arbitration and to direct how and by whom these costs are paid (Section 3(7)). Under the Act, both parties and the arbitrator are subject to specific obligations and requirements. The parties to an arbitration must comply with any summons to appear as witnesses and must produce any documents or articles required by the arbitrator. Failure to do so without lawful excuse, even after being offered reasonable expenses, constitutes an offence (Section 3(13b)(1) and (2)). The arbitrator, on the other hand, must make their award in writing within the stipulated time frame and may state any questions of law that arise during the arbitration for the opinion of the Court (Section 3(5)(b) and (6)). Additionally, the Court has the authority to remove the arbitrator for misconduct and to set aside the arbitrator's award if it finds misconduct or improper procurement (Section 3(9) and (12)). The Act imposes several potential penalties and consequences for breaches of its provisions. Individuals who fail to comply with a summons to appear as a witness, fail to produce required documents or articles, or refuse to be sworn, affirmed, or to answer questions, are subject to a penalty of fifty pounds (Section 3(13b)(3)). The Court retains the power to remit an award or part of an award to the arbitrator for reconsideration if certain conditions are met, such as the discovery of new evidence or an error in the award (Section 3(13)). Failure to adhere to these requirements and obligations may result in legal repercussions, including the possibility of fines and the nullification of arbitration awards.

Area of Law: Intellectual Property Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Commencement Provisions; Repeal & Amendment; Offence Provisions; Regulatory Standards; Enforcement Powers

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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