Productivity Commission calls for free import of books, copyright shake-up

By Peter Martin
Updated April 29 2016 - 9:13am, first published 8:47am
Consumers should have a leglislated right to defeat geoblocks imposed by companies such as Netflix, the commission says. Photo: iStock
Consumers should have a leglislated right to defeat geoblocks imposed by companies such as Netflix, the commission says. Photo: iStock
The commission has recommended the free import of books and the right to get around geoblocks. Photo: David Paul Morris
The commission has recommended the free import of books and the right to get around geoblocks. Photo: David Paul Morris

The Productivity Commission has recommended the free import of books, the free use of copyrighted material under new so-called "fair use" rules, a leglislated guarantee that consumers have the right to defeat internet geoblockers and much tighter restrictions on the granting and use of patents, under reforms it says could save consumers up to $1 billion a year.