This Submission responds to the Draft Report in the Inquiry into IP Arrangements published 29 April 2016 (‘Draft Report’). In broad terms, we:

1. Support many of the goals of, and recommendations of, the Productivity Commission expressed in the Draft Report;

2. Are concerned that some recommendations may not achieve the overall goals of the Commission, or reflect misunderstandings of the statutory framework.

Individually and collectively we have extensive experience teaching and researching in intellectual property law over many years, across all of the major IP systems. Some of us have participated in past reviews on which the Draft Report builds and many of us have spent time working in legal practice or acting as consultants. In addition, we are also authors of original copyright works and users of copyright materials in the course of teaching, research and publication. This Submission draws on our significant experience with, and published work on, various aspects of Australian and international IP law. This response is structured by topic area, and around the recommendations and requests for information in the Draft Report.