Panel
Presentation Title:
Freeing the Orphans: The Work Begins
Presenters:
Jessica Coates, Libby Baulch
Date:
Thursday 14 May 2026 | 11:00am – 12:00pm
Presentation Description:
After decades of advocacy from libraries, schools, researchers and creators, reform has finally arrived. In early March, the Australian Parliament passed landmark legislation to unlock access to orphan works — the huge swathes of culturally significant works previously locked up because their copyright owners cannot be identified or located.
But legislative change is only the starting point.
What does the new orphan works framework actually mean for day-to-day library practice? How does it reshape the risk landscape for digitisation and online access? What does a “limitation on liability” really protect you from — and where does responsibility sit? Most importantly, how can libraries confidently use these new provisions to open up collections that have remained inaccessible for years?
This panel will move beyond the headline reform to explore the practical realities. We’ll unpack what institutions need to know, where opportunities lie, and how the sector can work together to turn legal reform into meaningful public access.
The orphans have been freed in principle. Now the real work begins.
Jessica Coates
Director of Policy, Education, Research and Training at the Australian Library and Information Association
Libby Baulch
Director Policy, Government and Member Relations at Copyright Agency
Presenter Bio
Libby Baulch is Director Policy, Government and Member Relations at Copyright Agency. Her role includes representing the interests of Copyright Agency’s members on copyright and other policy issues, government relations, stakeholder engagement and oversight of member services.
Prior to her role at Copyright Agency, Libby headed up the Australian Copyright Council, a not-for-profit organisation that provides information, publications and training on a range of copyright issues, and advocacy for creators and copyright-based organisations.
Libby has a law degree from the University of Adelaide, and worked briefly in private practice before working with the Copyright Council.
Libby has written and spoken widely on copyright issues, and represented the interests of content creators in a range of inquiries and other forums.