76019 Media and Digital Platform Regulation
6cpRequisite(s): ( 70616 Australian Constitutional Law OR ((94 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04236 Juris Doctor OR 142 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04250 Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration OR 94 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04363 Juris Doctor Master of Intellectual Property OR 94 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04364 Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate Trade Mark Law and Practice) AND 70106c Principles of Public International Law AND 70107c Principles of Company Law) OR (94 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04320 Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate Professional Legal Practice AND 70106 Principles of Public International Law))
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 78178 Telecommunications Law and Regulations AND 78179 Telecommunications Law and Regulations
Description
The subject confronts the global multi-platform delivery environment in which media operates. It examines a series of flashpoints in communications regulation, looking at how evolving services challenge existing approaches to regulation and policy-making.
The subject covers the background to regulation of ‘legacy’ services in the broadcasting, telecommunications and online sectors and developing attempts to regulate digital platforms. An introduction to both structural and content regulation considers some foundational aspects of media and communications regulation, including licensing and the separation of categories of communications services. The subject provides students with an understanding of the policy and legal framework and addresses such questions as: who can provide these services; what regulatory obligations are imposed on businesses providing these services; how are these sectors regulated to ensure that competition is promoted; and how do attempts to regulate digital platforms involve departures from established regulatory practice.
This is a very topical course with a changing menu of current issues. It examines some specific aspects of media and digital platform regulation, using case studies to explore contemporary legal and regulatory challenges. Current issues include attempts to address the spread of disinformation; the use of the News Media Bargaining Code to shift revenue from digital platforms back to news providers; and regulatory measures to make streaming services such as Netflix contribute to the production of Australian content.
In examining these issues, students consider the variation in methods of regulation – for example, the use of legislation in some contexts and industry self-regulation in others – and reflect on the rationale for these different approaches.
Detailed subject description.