T’was the week before Christmas, and all through the land
Not a creature was copying: such actions were banned.

The iPods were placed in their cradles with care
In hopes that there soon would be music to share

Then up at the Big House in Canberra – what news!
I sprang to my keyboard, more law to peruse,

And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
A release from Phil Ruddock! Ah yes! Listen here!

A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had naught more to dread,

I can take up my iPod, pull out that old scanner,
Buy a TiVo for Yule, use them all! Any manner!

For I heard Phil exclaim, (with much fine print, so small),
Copyright is reformed! Merry Xmas to all!

The Copyright Amendment Act received Royal Assent yesterday. The press release is here. Effective immediately: Schedule 6 (private copying, ³special case² exception, fair dealing, parody and satire, libraries); Schedule 7 (maker of communication); Schedule 8 (responses to Digital agenda Review: educational institutions); Schedules 10 and 11 (Copyright Tribunal). Effective from January: all those criminal bits and TPM bits. This Xmas present will give you a hangover.