Libraries and copyright

Dennis Pearce

Derek Fielding made a largely unheralded but very significant contribution to Australian copyright law and it is appropriate that this be recognised by a chapter on this topic in this publication.

Derek was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Copyright Law Review Committee when that Committee was established in 1983. He served as one of its most active and influential members until the Committee was reconstituted (and its members paid) in 1995. Prior to and during this time Derek was a member of the Australian Vice Chancellors' Copyright Committee. I was a colleague of his in both these endeavours, and to say that this was a pleasure is an understatement. Derek brought a significant and much needed users' perspective to discussions that tended to be dominated by the interests of copyright owners. His intellectual contribution to the policy issues driving copyright law added much to the CLRC's consideration of the diverse issues with which it was concerned. His thoughtful comments on draft reports were welcomed by all members of the Committee.

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