In conclusion...

As an instrument for the dissemination of knowledge throughout our society the library is invaluable. This institution has had to deal with new challenges and expectations as we move into the 21^st century, many of them as a result of new technology. UNSW v Moorhouse (1975) is an illustration of how this has been dealt with in the past. Digitisation is a hurdle that is currently being faced as illustrated in the Google Books settlement. The importance of digitisation will certainly increase in the coming decades as methods such as optical character recognition (OCR) improve. The manner in which libraries approach this will depend on their specific goals and future law reform.

In terms of relevant legal reform a common theme has emerged throughout this resource base. On one hand an argument is presented in favour of having information that is freely available or at the very least accessible to members of society so that creativity and productivity can be fully realised. On the other hand we have the legal rights of copyright owners and their ability to control their work for revenue or other purposes. Striking a balance between these opposing sides when initiating reform is an extremely difficult task that is not made easier by the constant advance of technology, but it is a necessity.

We invite comment on our research and encourage those with strong opinions on the subjects raised to submit them to the Australian Law Reform Commission who is currently undergoing review of copyright.