COPYRIGHTBASICS

Purposeofcopyright,whoownscopyright,duration,
gettingpermission,infringement,copyrightoverseas.
Copyrightisalawthatappliestoformsofexpressionorcontent
suchastext,imagesandmusic.Itenablespeoplewhocreateand
investincontenttomanagehowothersusethecontent.
Copyrightappliestothecontentautomatically;thereisno
requirementtoregisterorgothroughanyotherformalprocess.
Thepurposeofcopyrightistoprovideanenvironmentthat
fostersthecreationofnewcontentforthebenefitofsocietyofa
whole.Itdoesthisby:
providinganincentiveforthecreationofnewcontent,by
enablingthosewhocreateandinvestinnewcontenttosetthe
termsonwhichotherscanusethecontent.Thosetermscan(but
maynot)includepayment.
enablingrewardtopeoplewhohavecreatedcontentthat
othersfindvaluable,andlacktheskillortimetoproducefor
themselves.
Thegovernmentappointedcommitteewhosereportledtothe
introductionofAustralia'scurrentCopyrightActsaid:
Theprimaryendofthelawonthissubjectistogivetothe
authorofacreativeworkhisjustrewardforthebenefithehas
bestowedonthecommunityandalsotoencouragethemaking
offurthercreativeworks.
Inordertoachieveitsobjectives,thecopyrightsystemtreats
differenttypesofusesofcontentindifferentways.Someuses
requirethepermission(licence)ofthecopyrightowner,
enablingthecopyrightownertosetthetermsofuse.Someuses
donotrequirepermission,butdorequirefairpaymentunder
statutorylicences.Someusesdonotrequirepermissionor
payment:seehere.
INFORMATIONFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHT
COUNCIL

TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.

COPYRIGHTMYTHS
There'squiteabitofmisunderstandingaboutcopyright
andhowitworks.Testyourknowledgeagainstthese
commonmythsandmisconceptions.
Thefollowinginformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegal
advice.
IFTHERESNOCOPYRIGHTNOTICE,ITSNOT
COVEREDBYCOPYRIGHT
Copyrightautomaticallyappliestowrittenandartisticworks
fromthemomenttheyrecreated.Youdonthavetodo
anythingtoobtaincopyright.Thecopyrightnotice(+nameof
copyrightowner+year)isaninternationallyrecognised
signifierthataworkisprotectedbycopyright.
IFITSUNPUBLISHED,COPYRIGHTDOESNTAPPLY
Copyrightappliestopublishedandunpublishedcontent.As
soonasaworkisfixedinsomeway(e.g.onpaper,orsavedto
disk),itscoveredbycopyright.
IFITSONTHEINTERNET,ANYONECANUSEIT
Copyrightisnotwaivedwhenyoupublishtextorimageson
theinternet.Youcandecidehowyouwouldlikepeopletouse
youronlinecontent.Guidelinesforusingonlinetextandimages
usuallyappearonawebsitestermsofusepage.
IDONTNEEDPERMISSIONIFICOPYLESSTHAN10%
Usingevenaverysmallpartofsomeoneelsesworkcanrequire
permissionifthatpartisanimportantorintegralpartandwas
theresultofskillandtime.Therearesomeprovisionsin
Australiascopyrightlawthatallowstheuseof10%without
permissioninspecialcircumstances.Forexample,studentscan
use10%ofaworkfortheirresearchorstudy,andeducational
institutionscanuse10%ofaworkunderthestatutorylicence
foreducation.

IDONTNEEDPERMISSIONTOUSEAWORKIFIMAKE
CHANGESTOIT
Makingchangesdoesnttakeawaytheneedtogetpermission.
Ifyouuseanimportantpartofsomeoneelsesworkyoumight
needpermission,evenifyoumakechangestoit.Youalsoneed
tobecarefulthatyoudonotmakechangestosomeoneelses
workthattheymayregardasderogatory.
ICANUSEOTHERPEOPLESCONTENTPROVIDEDI
CREDITTHEM
Youhavealegalobligationtocredittheauthorwhenyouuse
theirwork,unlesstheauthorhasagreednottobecredited,orit
isnotreasonabletocreditthem.Usingaworkforthepurposes
ofcriticism,revieworreportingnewsisconditionaloncrediting
theauthorandtitleofthework.However,includingacredit
doesntprecludeobtainingpermissioninallcircumstances.
ICANUSEOTHERPEOPLESCONTENTWITHOUT
PERMISSIONPROVIDEDIDONTMAKEMONEYOUT
OFIT.
Youusuallyneedpermissionevenifyouruseisnon
commercial.Thecontentcreatormaysetdifferenttermsfor
noncommercialuse(e.g.adifferentfee)butyoustillneedto
ask.
IFIPAYSOMEONETOCREATESOMETHINGFORME,I
OWNTHECOPYRIGHT
Ifthecontentcreatorisonstaff,andtheworkiscreatedduring
theiremploymentaspartoftheirjob,usuallytheemployerowns
thecopyright.If,ontheotherhand,thecontentcreatorisan
independentcontractor,thentheywillusuallyretaincopyright
unlessthereissomethinginwritingtransferringcopyrightto
you.Ifyouhavenotmadeanagreementabouthowyoumayuse
thematerial,youwouldusuallybeentitledtouseitforthe
purposesitwascommissionedfor,butmaynotbeentitledtouse
itforotherpurposes.
GETTINGPERMISSIONISDIFFICULT.

Itneedntbe.Itisagoodideatothinkaboutwhatwillbeeasy
toclearforusebeforeyouselectthecontent.Dependingonyour
need,CopyrightAgency|Viscopymaybeabletoassistyouwith
aclearance.WhileCopyrightAgencysmainbusinessfocusis
onblanketlicencesforinternaluseinorganisationsand
institutions,wealsoofferpayperuselicencesfortextand
images(nowwithanautomatedonlinefacilityfornewspaper
content).
THERIGHTSREVERTTOMEWHENMYBOOKISOUT
OFPRINT.
Thisdependsonyourcontract.Ifyourcontractisnotexplicit
aboutrightsreversion,youmayneedtoseeklegaladvice(e.g.
fromtheAustralianCopyrightCouncil).Publishingcontracts
generallyhaveaprovisionforrightstoreverttotheauthor
whenthebookisoutofprint,butyoullneedtocheckthe
definitionofoutofprint.Also,youmayneedtosendthe
publisherwrittennoticeaskingforreversionofrights.
INEEDTOREGISTERMYBOOKSWITHCOPYRIGHT
AGENCYINORDERTORECEIVEAPAYMENT
RegisteringyourbookswithCopyrightAgencydoesnot
increaseyourlikelihoodofattractingapayment.Itsimply
assistsourresearchers.CopyrightAgencypaymentsare
allocatedtoworksthatarerecordedasbeingusedbyour
licenseesinroutinesamplesurveys.Ifthoseworkshappentobe
registeredinourdatabase,itmakesiteasierforourresearchers
toidentifytherightsownersentitledtopayment.
EDUCATIONANDPUBLICLENDINGRIGHTS
PAYMENTSARETHESAMEASCOPYRIGHTAGENCY
PAYMENTS.
No,theyredifferent.CopyrightAgencypaymentsarefor
copyingandsharingofcontentunderlicencesmanagedbyus.
Theselicencesapplyinarangeofsectors,includingeducation,
governmentandbusiness.TheEducationandPublicLending
Rights(ELR/PLR)schemesareAustralianGovernmentcultural
programsadministeredbytheDepartmentforRegional
Australia,LocalGovernment,ArtsandSport.Theschemesare

designedtocompensateauthorsandpublishersforthepotential
lossofsalesrevenueduetotheborrowingoftheirbooksfrom
educationalandpubliclibraries.
INFORMATIONFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHT
COUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
June2013

WHATCOPYRIGHTCOVERS
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Copyrightappliestothefollowing:
text(e.g.inbooks,journalarticles,reports,webpages)
images(e.g.photographs,artisticworks,graphs)
videoandmovingimages(e.g.films,videos,television
commercials,vodcasts)
audiorecordings(e.g.musicrecordings,radioprograms,
podcasts)
computerprograms
UnderAustraliaandmostothercountries,copyright
automaticallyappliesassoonasthecontentiscreatedand'fixed'
insomeway(e.g.writtendown,recorded,savedtodisk).There
isnorequirementtoregisterorgothroughanyotherprocess.
WHATCOPYRIGHTMEANS
Ownersofcopyrighthaveexclusiverightstousetheircontentin

certainways:e.g.toreproduceitormakeavailableonline.
Peoplewhowanttouseotherpeople'scontentthushavetoget
permission(alicence)fromtheownerofcopyright.
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:
AnIntroductiontoCopyrightinAustralia
Ideas:LegalProtection
Databases,Compilations,Tables&Forms
Maps&Charts
Names,Titles&Slogans
Quotes&Extracts
ProtectingYourCopyright

COPYRIGHTDURATIONCopyrightlastsfordifferent
periodsdependingonanumberoffactorsincludingthetypeofmaterial,
whenitwascreated,whenthecreatordiedandwhenitwaspublished.

COPYRIGHTDURATION
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Copyrightlastsfordifferentperiodsdependingona
numberoffactorsincludingthetypeofmaterial,whenit
wascreated,whenthecreatordiedandwhenitwas
published.

Copyrightperiodscanalsovaryfromcountrytocountry.
Ingeneral,copyrightintext,imagesandmusiclastsfor70
yearsaftertheyearofthecreator'sdeath,evenifthecreator
doesnotowncopyright.Theperiodwasextendedfrom50to70
yearsin2005,butonlyforcontentthatwasstillincopyrighton
1January2005.
Whencopyrightinaworkhasexpired,itisoftenreferredtoas
beinginthepublicdomainoroutofcopyright
InAustralia,copyrighthasexpiredin:
worktype

outofcopyrightif:

photograph

takenbefore1955

allworks

publishedbefore1955anonymously,orundera
pseudonym,and
creatorcannotbeidentifiedbyreasonableenquiry

artworks

creatordiedbefore1955,except
'engravings'notpublishedbefore1955

textworks

creatordiedbefore1955,provided
workwasalsopublishedbefore1955

governmenttext,
musicalworks,
photographs,
engavings

workpublishedmorethan50yearsbeforethebegin
thecurrentyear(e.g.in2012,workpublishedbefor
1962),and
copyrightownedbygovernment(Commonwealth,
Territory),or
workmadeforgovernment,or
workfirstpublishedbygovernment

governmentartworks
(exceptphotographs,

workmademorethan50yearsbeforethebeginning
currentyear(e.g.in2012,workmadebefore1962)

engravings)

copyrightownedbygovernment(Commonwealth,
Territory),or
workmadeforgovernment,or
workfirstpublishedbygovernment

Note:
thechartaboveisnotcomprehensive(e.g.itdoesnot
coveraudiovisualcontent)
copyrightinanunpublishedworkcanlastindefinitely
oneitemcancontainmanyseparateworks:e.g.abookcan
containanumberoftextworks,andanumberofartworks,all
withdifferentcreatorsanddifferentperiodsofcopyright
protection
atranslationofworkisprotectedbycopyrightseparately
fromtheoriginal:atranslationmaybeprotectedbycopyright
eveniftheoriginalworkisoutofcopyright
similarly,anarrangementofamusicalworkcanbe
protectedbycopyrightseparatelyfromtheoriginal:an
arrangementmaybeprotectedbycopyrighteveniftheoriginal
workisoutofcopyright
theartists'resaleroyaltyrightlastsfor70yearsafterthe
yearoftheartist'sdeath:anartworkcanbeoutofcopyright,but
eligibleforresaleroyalties.
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:'DurationofCopyright'
27July2012

WHOOWNSCOPYRIGHT
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FIRSTOWNEROFCOPYRIGHT
Asageneralrule,thefirstownerofcopyrightinaworkisthe
creator,unlessthecreatorhasassignedcopyrightinadvance
(e.g.toaclientorapublisher).
Where,however,thereisnoagreementaboutwhoowns
copyright,thefollowingwillbethefirstownerofcopyright:
thecreator'semployer,ifthecreatorisanemployee(nota
freelancer)andcreatedtheworkaspartoftheirjob
aclientwhocommissionsaportrait,privatephotograph
(e.g.ofawedding),videooraudiorecording
theCommonwealthoraStateifthematerialwascreated
for,orfirstpublishedby,aCommonwealthorStategovernment
departmentoragency.
Wheretheworkistheproductofcollaborationcopyrightmay
bejointlyowned.
SPECIALPROVISIONSFORSTAFFJOURNALISTS
Therearespecialprovisionsforemployedjournalists.Unless
thereisanagreementtothecontrary,employedjournalistsown
copyrightinrelationtophotocopying,andinclusionoftheir
workinabook.Morehere.
SPECIALPROVISIONSFOROLDMATERIAL
Insomecases,therulesvaryforoldmaterial.Forexample,
therearedifferentprovisionsforcommissionedphotographs
takenbeforeJuly1998,andworkscreatedbyemployed
journalistsbeforeJuly1998.
DIFFERENTOWNERSFORDIFFERENTCOPYRIGHT
RIGHTS
Differentpeoplecanowndifferentcopyrightrightsinawork.
Forexample,onepersonmayowncopyrightforreproducingthe

workasaprintedbook,andanotherforpublishingonline.
OWNERSHIPOFCOPYRIGHTCANBETRANSFERRED
Ownershipofcopyrightrightscanbetransferredfromone
persontoanotherbyassignment,andwhenapersondies(under
theperson'swill,orundertherulesthatapplywhensomeone
dieswithoutawill).
Identifyingthecurrentownerofcopyrightoftenrequires
identifyingthefirstownerofcopyrightandanysubsequent
transfersofownership.
ONEITEMCANHAVEMORETHANONECOPYRIGHT
OWNER
Oneitemcancontainmanyseparateworks,eachwitha
differentcopyrightowner.Forexample,ananthologycontains
worksbydifferentauthors,eachofwhichmayhaveadifferent
copyrightowner.Similarly,thecopyrightsinimagesinabook
mayhavedifferentowners.

GETTINGPERMISSION
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WHYDOYOUNEEDPERMISSION?
TheCopyrightActgivesauthors,publishers,journalists,visual
artistsandotherslegalrightstocontrolcertainusesoftheir
contentbyothers.Thisincludesreproducingthecontentin
variousways,makingitavailableonline,andemailingit.
Generally,ifyouwanttocopyorsharesomeoneelseswork,
youarelikelytoneedpermission(alsoreferredtoasalicence)

fromthecopyrightownerunless:
thecopyrighthasexpired
aspecialexceptionorstatutorylicence(e.g.for
educationalorgovernmentuse)applies.
LICENCESFROMCOPYRIGHTAGENCY|VISCOPY
CopyrightAgency|Viscopycangivelicencesonbehalfofits
membersforavarietyofusesincluding:
'blanket'licencestobusinessesforarangeofuseoftext
andimagesbystaff
'payperuse'licencesfor'oneoff'uses,suchasfor
newspapersandartworks
LICENCESDIRECTLYFROMACOPYRIGHTOWNER
Inothercases,youmayneedtocontactthecopyrightowner
directly.Thecopyrightownermayrefusepermission.Iftheydo
givealicence,theremaybeconditionssuchaspaymentand
acknowledgement.Formatterscommonlycoveredinlicences,
seehere.
WHOTOGETPERMISSIONFROM?
Forinformationonwhoownscopyright,clickhere.
Insomecases,therecanbemorethanrightsholderinthecontent
youwanttouse.Forexample,ifyouwantedtoreproducetext
andimagesfromabook,differentpeoplemayowntherightsin
thetextandimagesrespectively.
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:
Permission:DoINeedIt?
Permission:HowtoGetIt

INFRINGEMENT

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Apersoncaninfringecopyrightbydoingsomethingthat
requiresacopyrightclearancewiththecopyrightowner's
permission(licence).TheCopyrightActallowscertainusesof
contentthatwouldotherwiserequireacopyrightclearance:
morehere.
Youcaninfringecopyrightbyusingpartofaworkifthepartis
'substantial'incopyrightterms.Ifyouusepartofanotherwork
thatresultedfromsufficientskillandeffort,youcaninfringe
copyrightevenifitisnotaproportionallylargepart.
Youdon'tnecessarilyavoidinfringementbymakingchangesto
anotherperson'scontent:thequestioniswhetheryouhave
appropriatedsomethingthatresultedfromsomeoneelse'sskill
andeffortratherthantheskillandeffortyouhaveadded.
Youcanalsoinfringecopyrightby:
authorisingorfacilitatinganunlicensedusebysomeone
else
importingarticlescontaininginfringingcopyrightmaterial
sellinginfringingarticles
OTHERBREACHESOFTHECOPYRIGHTACT

OtherthingsthatcanbreachtheCopyrightActinclude:
circumventingamechanismthatcontrolsaccesstodigital
material
selling,importingormanufacturingcircumventiondevices
removingoralteringrightsmanagementinformationin
digitalfiles
failingtoattribute(orfalselyattributing)thecreatorofa
work
changingordoingsomethingelsewithaworkthat

damagesthecreator'sreputationorisoffensivetothecreator
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:

Infringement:Actions,Remedies,Offences&Penalties
InfringementWhatCanIDo?

EXCEPTIONSTheCopyrightActincludesexceptionsto
infringementthatallowusesofcopyrightmaterialwithoutpermission.

EXCEPTIONS
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TheCopyrightActincludesexceptionstoinfringement
thatallowusesofcopyrightmaterialwithoutpermission.
Someexceptionscommonlyreliedonare:
purpose

conditions/requirements

aperson's
researchor
study

articlefromaperiodical;or
if'work'publishedasedition':10%ofpagesorachapter;o
if'work'inelectronicform:10%ofwordsorachapter;or
useisotherwise'fair'havingregardtofactorsintheCopyr

criticismor
review

useis'fair';and
acknowledgement

parodyorsatire

useis'fair'

reportingthe
news

useis'fair';and
newsisinanewspaper,magazineorsimilarperiodicalwit
sufficientacknowledgement;or
newsisinafilm;or
newsis'communicated'electronically(e.g.availableonaw
orbroadcast)

professional
advice

professionaladvicebylegalpractitioner,patentattorneyor
marksattorney;and
useis'fair'

judicial
proceedings

forajudicialproceedingorreportofajudicialproceeding

'spaceshifting'
ofmusic

youownacopyofthemusic(e.g.aCD)
youmakeacopysolelytoplayonadeviceyouown(e.g.a
inprivate

'timeshifting'
ofbroadcasts

yourecordabroadcastfromtelevisionorradiosolelytow
and/orlistentolater,inprivate

'formatshifting'

youownaphotograph,book,newspaper,periodicalorvide
youmakeacopyinadifferentformatforyourprivateuse

MOREONABOVEEXCEPTIONS
SeeAustralianCopyrightCouncilinformationsheets:
ResearchorStudy
FairDealing:WhatCanIUseWithoutPermission

Parodies,Satire&Jokes
Copying&ConvertingFormatsforPrivateUse
ExceptionstoCopyright

STATUTORYLICENCESTheAustralianCopyright
Actcontainsprovisionsthatallowcertainusesofcontentwithouta
copyrightclearance,subjecttofairpayment.Theseprovisionsareknown
asstatutorylicences.Theyarealsosometimesreferredtoascompulsory
licencesorlegallicences.

STATUTORYLICENCES
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TheAustralianCopyrightActcontainsprovisions
thatallowcertainusesofcontentwithouta
copyrightclearance,subjecttofairpayment.These
provisionsareknownasstatutorylicences.Theyare
alsosometimesreferredtoascompulsorylicences
orlegallicences.

TheAustralianGovernmenthasappointedCopyright
Agencytomanagethestatutorylicencesthatallow
educationalandgovernmentuseoftext,imagesandmusic
scores.
TheGovernmenthasapppointedScreenrightstomanage
thestatutorylicencesthatalloweducationaland
governmentuseofbroadcastcontent(e.g.televisionand
radioprograms),andretransmissionoffreetoair
broadcasts.

INTELLECTUALPROPERTYCopyrightisoneform
of'intellectualproperty'.Otherformsincludepatents,trademarksand
confidentialinformation.

INTELLECTUALPROPERTY
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Copyrightisoneformof'intellectualproperty'.Other
formsincludepatents,trademarksandconfidential
information.

Intellectualpropertyrightsarelegalrightstocontrolother
people'suseofthingsembodyingideasandcreative
output.Theserightsmeanthereisalegalobligationtoget
permission(alicence)fromtheholder(owner)ofintellectual
propertyrightstomakecertainusesofthingsresultingfrom
others'intellect,suchasinventions,branding,andcreative
expressions.
Intellectualpropertyrightsincludecopyrightrightsinthings
suchastext,musicandimages;patentrightsininventions;trade
markrightsintradenamesandlogos;anddesignrightsin
featuresoffunctionaldesigns.
Whilethereisnoregistrationprocessforcopyrightprotectionin
Australia,thereareregistrationprocessesforotherformsof
intellectualproperty:patents,trademarksanddesigns.
RegistrationismanagedbyIPAustralia,andthereis
informationabouttheseandotherareasofintellectualproperty
ontheIPAustraliawebsite.
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL

TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:
Ideas:legalprotection
Names,titles&slogans
Logos:legalprotection
Designsforfunctionalarticles

MORALRIGHTSTherearelegalobligationstoattribute
(credit)creators,andnottotreattheirworkinaderogatoryway.

MORALRIGHTS
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25

Therearelegalobligationstoattribute(credit)creators,
andnottotreattheirworkinaderogatoryway.

Moralrightsarerightsprovidedtocreatorsundercopyrightlaw
inordertoprotectboththeirreputationandtheintegrityoftheir
work.
InAustralia,moralrightswereintroducedinDecember2000
throughtheCopyrightAmendment(MoralRights)Act2000.
Thislegislationprovidescreatorswiththreerights.Theyare:
therightofattributionofauthorship;
therightnottohaveauthorshipoftheirworkfalsely
attributed;and
therightofintegrityofauthorship.Thisprotectscreators
fromtheirworkbeingusedinaderogatorywaythatmay

negativelyimpactontheircharacterorreputation.
Moralrightslastforthesametimeascopyrightinawork,the
termofwhichisusuallythecreatorslifeplus70years.
WHYAREMORALRIGHTSDIFFERENT?
Copyrightisdesignedtoprotecttheeconomicrightsof
copyrightholders.Incomparison,moralrightsprotectthe
reputationandintegrityofcreators.SowhileCopyrightAgency
Limited(CAL)managescopyright,andmonitorsthe
reproductionandcommunicationofworks,itdoesnotmonitor
themoralrightsofitsmembers.
Asacreator,youretainyourmoralrightsevenifyoudonot
ownthecopyrightinyourwork.Moralrightscanonlybeheld
byindividuals,socorporateentitiesandorganisationscannot
claimmoralrightsinawork.
WHATTYPEOFWORKSDOMORALRIGHTSAPPLY
TO?
Moralrightsapplytoawiderangeofworksincluding:
artisticworksincludingdrawings,paintings,sculptures,
graphs;
musicalworks;
dramaticworksincludingplays,filmscripts;
writtenmaterialincludingnovels,textbooks,poems,
songs,journalarticles;
computerprograms;and
films.
WHATWOULDBECONSIDEREDANINFRINGEMENT?
Therearenumerouswaysthatmoralrightscanbeinfringed.
Theyinclude:
notattributingaworktoitsrightfulcreatororfalsely
attributingtheworktosomeoneelse;
reproducingafalselyattributedwork;
treatingaworkinaderogatoryfashion.Thiscaninclude
distorting,mutilatingormateriallyalteringthework;and
dealingcommerciallywithorimportingaworkthathad
beentreatedinaderogatoryfashion.

Ifaninfringementoccursthecreatoroftheworkisentitledto
takelegalaction.
CANISELLORTRANSFERMYMORALRIGHTS?
No.Unlikecopyright,moralrightscannotbetransferredorsold.
Thissaid,moralrightswillnotbeinfringedifacreatorhas
consentedtotheirworkbeingusedinaparticularmanner.This
iscalledcreatorsconsent.Thisconsentmustbeinwritingand
needstospecificallydetailthewaythecreatorwillallowthe
worktobeused.Itmayapplytocurrentorfutureworks,and
employeesareabletogivetheiremployerageneralconsentfor
workscreatedinthecourseoftheiremployment.
ARETHEREANYDEFENCESTOINFRINGEMENT?
Yes.Therearecaseswhereeithernotattributingacreatoror
treatingaworkinaderogatorymannerwouldnotconstitutea
breachofmoralrights.Theseincludecreatorsconsent,aswell
asreasonableuse.
TheCopyrightAct1968(theAct)providesadefenceto
infringementiftheuseofaworkwasreasonable.Therearea
fewconsiderationsindeterminingwhatconstitutesreasonable.
Theseinclude:
thenatureofthework;
thepurposeforwhichitwasused;
whethertheworkwascreatedwhileinemployment;
iftherearetwoormoreauthors,theirviewsabouthowthe
workwasusedorattributed;and
relevantindustrypractice.
WHATISRELEVANTINDUSTRYPRACTICE?
Thelawtakesintoaccountthatdifferentindustriesoperatein
wayswherestrictadherencetomoralrightsisnotpractical.A
goodexampleistheadvertisingindustrywherelargegroupsof
peopleworkonsingleadvertisements.Itwouldbeverydifficult
tomeettherightofattributionbylistinginadvertisementsevery
singlepersoninvolvedinthecreativeprocess.
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL

TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram

LENDINGRIGHTSThePublicLendingRight(PLR)and
EducationalLendingRight(ELR)Schemesandhowtheydifferfrom
licencesmanagedbyCopyrightAgency

LENDINGRIGHTS

ThePublicLendingRight(PLR)andEducational
LendingRight(ELR)Schemesandhowtheydifferfrom
licencesmanagedbyCopyrightAgency

ThePublicLendingRight(PLR)andEducationalLendingRight
(ELR)schemesareAustralianGovernmentculturalprograms
administeredbythedepartmentresponsibleforthearts
(currentlytheDepartmentforRegionalAustralia,Local
Government,ArtsandSport).Theschemesareintendedto
compensateauthorsandpublishersforthelossofpotentialsales
incomeduetotheirbooksbeingavailableforuseforfreefrom
publicandeducationallendinglibraries,andarenotcopyright
payments.
ThereismoreinformationonPLRandELRschemeshere.
ThelicenceschemesadministeredbyCopyrightAgencydiffer
fromthePLRandELRschemesinanumberofimportant
respects.
Theseinclude:
thelicencefeesallowtheuseofcopyrightcontentthat
wouldotherwiserequireacopyrightclearance
thelicenceschemescovertheuseofbothAustralianand
foreign
thedistributionoflicencefeesreflectstheusageofcontent
bylicensees
mostofthecontentusedinundertheeducationlicencesis
contentthathasbeenproducedfortheeducationsector.

ASSIGNING,LICENSING
Copyrightownersmayassignorlicensetheserightstoothers.
Assignmentofcopyrightandlicencescanincludeanumberof
limitationsandconditions.Thesecanincludelimitationsonthe
typeofusethatcanbemadeofthework,theperiodoftimefor
whichalicenceappliesandrequirementsforpayment.
More:
Copyrighttermsofuseforwebsites
CreativeCommonslicences
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:
Assigning&licensingrights
Competitions

LICENCETERMS
Whetheryouaregrantingorgettingalicence(clearance),itis
alwaysagoodideatorecordthedetailsofthelicenceinwriting.
Itisalsoagoodideatodatethewrittenrecordofthelicence,
andhaveitsignedbyboththelicensorandlicensee.
Thedocumentrecordingalicencewouldusuallyincludethe
following:
whotherightsholderisandyourdetails,includingrelevant
namesandcontactdetailsuseletterheadifappropriate;
preciselyidentifythematerialtobecopied,including
whichpartorpartsoftheworkyouwanttocopy,pagenumbers,
chaptertitles,oranyartworksincluded.Thisavoidsconfusion
later,andallowstherightsholdertoquicklyidentifythework,
especiallyiftheycontrolalotofmaterial(suchasapublisher);

howthematerialisgoingtobeused,including
informationsuchasnumberofcopiesmade,whotheywillbe
distributedto,wheretheywillbedistributed(forexample,to
staffinoverseasoffices)andwhethertheworkwillbe
distributedfreeofchargeorforprofit;
howlongthepermissionlasts(eg,isitaoneoffcopyor
willthematerialcontinuetobecopiedforasetperiodoftime?);
willcopyingbepaidfor?Andifsohowandwhenwillthe
chargesbecalculated?
willtherightsholderbeacknowledgedastheauthoror
publisherinanywayonyourcopies?
awarranty(whichisalegalguaranteeorlegallybinding
promise)thatthepersongrantingpermissiondoesinfactcontrol
thecopyingrightsintheworkandthattheworkdoesnot
infringeanyexistingcopyright.
Thisinformationisforguidanceonly.Itisnotlegaladvice.
MOREFROMAUSTRALIANCOPYRIGHTCOUNCIL
TheAustralianCopyrightCouncilpublishesinformationsheets
anddetailedguides,offersalegaladviceserviceandrunsan
annualtrainingprogram.
Informationsheetsinclude:
Assigningandlicensingrights
Feesandroyaltiesfortheuseofcopyrightmaterial
Permission:doIneedit?
Permission:howtogetit?

CREATIVECOMMONS
WhatareCreativeCommonslicencesandhowdothey
work?

CreativeCommons(CC)licencesareaseriesoflicencesthat
peopleusetogiveupfrontpermissiontootherstousetheirwork
withoutpayment.Thelicenceswereinitiallydevelopedinthe
UnitedStates.Sincethen,multipleversionshavebeen
developedfortheUS,andforothercountriesincluding

Australia.
ThereisinformationaboutthelicencesdevelopedforAustralia
atCreativeCommonsAustralia.Therearefourvariationsofthe
licence:Attribution(BY);Noncommercial(NC);NoDerivative
Works(ND);andShareAlike(SA).
SeetheAustralianCopyrightCouncil'sinformationsheet
CreativeCommonsLicences(G094v04)forissuesyouneedto
considerbeforeusingaCreativeCommonslicence.
ContentcoveredbyaCreativeCommonslicenceisnotcovered
byourlicences.Wedonotallocatepaymentstocontentcovered
bytheselicences.

BLACKLINEMASTERS
Theinformationinthisarticleisforguidanceonly.Itisnot
legaladvice.
Manypublisherssellresourcessuchasstudentworkbooksand
teacherresourceswithalicence(usuallyconfinedtothe
purchaseroftheresource)tocopysomeorallofthecontentsof
theresource.Thesearecommonlyreferredtoasblackline
masters.
Ateacherwhocancopyaresourceunderadirectlicencefrom
thepublisherdoesnotneedtorelyontheeducationalstatutory
licence.
Whetherateachersuseismadeunderadirectlicencefromthe
publisherisaffectedbymattersthatinclude:
whetherthepublisherslicenceonlyappliestothepurchaserof
theresource;
ifthepurchaserisaschool,whetherthelicenceappliestoall
staffofthatschool;
whetherthelicencecoversusesallowedbytheeducational
statutorylicence,oronlyusesthatareoutsidetheeducational

statutorylicence;
whetherthelicenceappliestoalltypesofuses(suchas
scanning,uploadingtolearningmanagementsystems,and
emailingstudents)oronlysome(suchasphotocopying);and
whetherthewordingontheblacklinemasterpagesaboutwhat
teacherscandowiththepagesisintendedtodescribewhat
teacherscandoundertheeducationalstatutorylicence,and/or
whattheycandounderthepublishersdirectlicence.
Ambiguityorlackofclarityinthewordingusedbypublishersis
problematicforteacherswhowanttoknowwhethertheiruseof
aresourceisdirectlylicensedbythepublisher.Itisalso
problematicforCAL.
Whenprocessingrecordsofcopyingofblacklinemasters,CAL
hastoworkoutwhetherteachersmadethecopiesinrelianceon
directlicencesfrompublishers,orundertheeducational
statutorylicence.Thiscanbedifficulttodoifthescopeofa
publisherslicenceisnotclear,orifthewordingonablackline
masterpageisnotclearlyconsistentwiththetermsofusefor
theresourceasawhole(whichoftenappearontheimprintor
versopage).
Inaddition,CALdoesnothaveinformationaboutwhetherthe
teacherswhocopiedblacklinemasterswerethepurchasersof
theresource.
WhereCALhasinformationthatschoolsuseofaworkis
directlylicensedbyapublisher,thenCALdoesnotallocate
paymenttothatworkfromthecopyrightfeesitreceives.CAL
understands,however,thataproportionofschoolsusesof
blacklinemastersaremadeoutsidethescopeofthepublishers
licencesforexample,byteacherswhodidnotpurchasethe
resource.Forthisreason,underitscurrentdistributionpolicy,
CALpayspublishersforschoolscopyingofblacklinemasters,
atadiscountedrate,inrecognitionthatsomeofthecopiesare
coveredbydirectlicencesandsomearenot.

ToassistCAL,andteachers,toworkoutwhetherateachers
useofaresourceiscoveredbythepublishersdirectlicence,or
bytheeducationalstatutorylicence(orneither),CAL
recommendsthatpublishersreviewtheirtermsofuseforthe
resourceasawhole,andthewordingonanyblacklinemaster
pagesintheresource,tomakesurethat:
thewordingonanyblacklinemasterpagesisconsistentwith
thewordingofthetermsofusefortheresourceasawhole;and
thetermsofusefortheresourceclearlyidentifyanyusesthat
aredirectlylicensedbythepublisher.
Ifyouareunsureabouthowyourtermsofusewouldbetreated
inCALsprocessingofusagerecords,pleasefeelfreetocontact
CALsMemberServicesteamforclarificationonourtollfree
number1800066844,orbyemailing
memberservices@copyright.com.au.
Sampletermsofuseforblacklinemasters
Ifyouwishtomaintainyourentitlementtoreceivepayments
fromcopyrightfeescollectedbyCAL,CALrecommendsthat
yourtermsofuserefertousesthatareallowedunderthe
educationalstatutorylicenceand:
notlicenseanyotheruses(option1);or
onlylicenseusesthatarenotalreadyallowedbythe
educationalstatutorylicence(option2).
Ineithercase,youneedtomakesurethatanywordingonany
blacklinemasterpagesisconsistentwiththetermsofuse.
Option1
Termsofuseforthispublication
[nameofcopyrightowner][year]
ExceptaspermittedbytheCopyrightAct1968(Cth),youmay
notreproduceorcommunicateanyofthecontentsofthis

publication,withoutthewrittenpermissionofthecopyright
owner.
Youmaybeentitledtoreproduceorcommunicatefromthis
publicationforeducationalpurposesunderPartVBofthe
CopyrightAct,orforgovernmentpurposesunderPartVII
Division2oftheCopyrightAct.Formoreinformation,visit
www.copyright.com.auandwww.copyright.org.au.
Option2
Termsofuseforthispublication
[nameofcopyrightowner][year].
ExceptaspermittedbytheCopyrightAct1968(Cth)orthese
termsofuse,youmaynotreproduceorcommunicateanyofthe
contentsofthispublication,withoutthewrittenpermissionof
thecopyrightowner.
Youmaybeentitledtoreproduceorcommunicatefromthis
publicationforeducationalpurposesunderPartVBofthe
CopyrightAct,orforgovernmentpurposesunderPartVII
Division2oftheCopyrightAct.Formoreinformation,visit
www.copyright.com.auandwww.copyright.org.au.
Somepagesinthispublicationincludethefollowing
sentence:Totheextenttowhichthepurchaserisnotpermitted
bytheCopyrightAct1968,andsubjecttothetermsofusefor
thispublication,thepurchaserofthispublicationmay
photocopythispagefortheirteachingpurposes.Totheextent
youarenotentitledtophotocopythesepagesunderPartVBof
theCopyrightAct1968(Cth),youmayphotocopythemonthe
followingconditions:
1.youarethepurchaser,ortheemployeeofthepurchaser,of
thispublication;
2.eachphotocopyincludesthephraseTotheextenttowhich
thepurchaserisnotpermittedbytheCopyrightAct1968,and
subjecttothetermsofuseforthispublication,thepurchaserof

thispublicationmayphotocopythispagefortheirteaching
purposes;and
3.eachphotocopyisusedsolelyforyourteachingpurposes.
Youmaynotscanordigitiseanyofthecontentsofthis
publicationexceptaspermittedbytheCopyrightAct1968
(Cth).
Wordingonphotocopiablepages
Youshouldincludethephrasereferredtointhetermsofuseon
eachphotocopiablepage:TotheextentnotpermittedbyPart
VBoftheCopyrightAct1968,andsubjecttothetermsofuse
forthisresource,thepurchaserofthisresourcemayphotocopy
thispagefortheirteachingpurposes.