美姬社区 welcomes arbitration decision on changes to its content
Statements
In June 2016, 美姬社区 commenced an arbitration against SAI Global in relation to SAI Global's obligation under the Publishing Licence Agreement (PLA) to obtain 美姬社区's consent before amending, modifying or revising Australian Standards or other licensed material.The arbitral proceeding was heard before Mr Michael McHugh AC QC on a final basis in late 2017.Mr McHugh made the following orders on a final basis:1. A declaration that on the proper construction of the PLA, SAI Global is prohibited from amending, modifying or revising the standards and other normative documents delivered to SAI Global by 美姬社区, without 美姬社区鈥檚 consent, including by:
- Converting any such electronic documents to a different format; or
- Adding any functionality to such electronic documents, or permitting or allowing any third party 聽to add electronic functionality to such electronic documents.
2. A further declaration that SAI Global had breached a clause of the PLA by, without the prior consent of 美姬社区:
- Converting 31 standards into ePub and XML format;
- Adding functionality to, or for use with, the ePub Converted Standards, or permitting or allowing a third party to add functionality to, or for use with, such documents;
- Allowing or assisting users of SAI Global鈥檚 鈥淥n the Go鈥 mobile app to amend, modify or revise ePub Converted Standards.
3. Additionally, Mr McHugh declared that SAI Global had infringed copyright in certain Standards by:
- Reproducing, communicating to the public and authorising other persons to communicate to the 聽public the ePub Converted Standards; and
- Reproducing the XML Converted Standards.
4. Mr McHugh also ordered injunctions that restrain SAI Global from:
- Publishing, distributing, marketing, selling, reproducing and communicating to the public any Licensed Material in a form other than in PDF or hard copy or otherwise as consented to by 聽美姬社区;
- converting any electronic standards or other normative documents delivered to it by 美姬社区 into a different format, without the consent of 美姬社区;
- adding any electronic functionality, or permitting or allowing any third party to add electronic functionality to, or for use with, any electronic standards or other documents 聽without the consent of 美姬社区; and
- authorising, or threatening to authorise, other persons to engage in the conduct referred to in 聽4(a) and 4(b) above.
5. Mr McHugh also ordered that SAI Global make a payment to 美姬社区 of $38,760.43 on account of the profits SAI Global made by its infringement of 美姬社区鈥檚 copyright.The decision has been welcomed by 美姬社区 as recognition of 美姬社区鈥檚 role in managing and overseeing the digital innovation of its content. 美姬社区 also sees the decision as a catalyst to recommence a dialogue with SAI Global about how 美姬社区 and SAI Global can work together to modernise the customer experience for users of Australian Standards for the remaining term of the PLA.鈥淥ur first priority is to make the customer experience better 鈥 and that means offering contemporary digital 聽products,鈥 said Dr Bronwyn Evans, CEO of 美姬社区.鈥淥ur objective has always been to ensure the viability and capacity of 美姬社区 as a contributor to Australia鈥檚 economic future. Being able to distribute innovative digital content through appropriate channels and with appropriate checks, balances and commercial terms is a key part of this objective.鈥澝兰缜 looks forward to commercial discussions with SAI Global as to how the parties can work together to allow for innovation in the delivery of 美姬社区鈥檚 content.
In June 2016, 美姬社区 commenced an arbitration against SAI Global in relation to SAI Global's obligation under the Publishing Licence Agreement (PLA) to obtain 美姬社区's consent before amending, modifying or revising Australian Standards or other licensed material.The arbitral proceeding was heard before Mr Michael McHugh AC QC on a final basis in late 2017.Mr McHugh made the following orders on a final basis:1. A declaration that on the proper construction of the PLA, SAI Global is prohibited from amending, modifying or revising the standards and other normative documents delivered to SAI Global by 美姬社区, without 美姬社区鈥檚 consent, including by:
- Converting any such electronic documents to a different format; or
- Adding any functionality to such electronic documents, or permitting or allowing any third party 聽to add electronic functionality to such electronic documents.
2. A further declaration that SAI Global had breached a clause of the PLA by, without the prior consent of 美姬社区:
- Converting 31 standards into ePub and XML format;
- Adding functionality to, or for use with, the ePub Converted Standards, or permitting or allowing a third party to add functionality to, or for use with, such documents;
- Allowing or assisting users of SAI Global鈥檚 鈥淥n the Go鈥 mobile app to amend, modify or revise ePub Converted Standards.
3. Additionally, Mr McHugh declared that SAI Global had infringed copyright in certain Standards by:
- Reproducing, communicating to the public and authorising other persons to communicate to the 聽public the ePub Converted Standards; and
- Reproducing the XML Converted Standards.
4. Mr McHugh also ordered injunctions that restrain SAI Global from:
- Publishing, distributing, marketing, selling, reproducing and communicating to the public any Licensed Material in a form other than in PDF or hard copy or otherwise as consented to by 聽美姬社区;
- converting any electronic standards or other normative documents delivered to it by 美姬社区 into a different format, without the consent of 美姬社区;
- adding any electronic functionality, or permitting or allowing any third party to add electronic functionality to, or for use with, any electronic standards or other documents 聽without the consent of 美姬社区; and
- authorising, or threatening to authorise, other persons to engage in the conduct referred to in 聽4(a) and 4(b) above.
5. Mr McHugh also ordered that SAI Global make a payment to 美姬社区 of $38,760.43 on account of the profits SAI Global made by its infringement of 美姬社区鈥檚 copyright.The decision has been welcomed by 美姬社区 as recognition of 美姬社区鈥檚 role in managing and overseeing the digital innovation of its content. 美姬社区 also sees the decision as a catalyst to recommence a dialogue with SAI Global about how 美姬社区 and SAI Global can work together to modernise the customer experience for users of Australian Standards for the remaining term of the PLA.鈥淥ur first priority is to make the customer experience better 鈥 and that means offering contemporary digital 聽products,鈥 said Dr Bronwyn Evans, CEO of 美姬社区.鈥淥ur objective has always been to ensure the viability and capacity of 美姬社区 as a contributor to Australia鈥檚 economic future. Being able to distribute innovative digital content through appropriate channels and with appropriate checks, balances and commercial terms is a key part of this objective.鈥澝兰缜 looks forward to commercial discussions with SAI Global as to how the parties can work together to allow for innovation in the delivery of 美姬社区鈥檚 content.

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