Copyright Information

For staff, researchers and students.

What is copyright?

Copyright is a type of intellectual property law that protects a person’s creative skills and labour. It is designed to prevent the unauthorised use by others of a "work" - that is, the original form in which an idea or information has been expressed by the creator. Copyright law also supports a balance for users of copyright materials, by allowing a certain amount of use for certain purposes, such as "fair dealing for research or study".

Students should make themselves familiar with the CQUniversity Copyright Policy

Students often rely on using copyrighted material in assignments. For example, images or diagrams in an essay or the performance of a drama excerpt in a class drama presentation. The following Q&A will assist with basics copyright information.

Who owns copyright in a student's work?

In general you are the sole owner of your work unless it was a joint creation or a contract with another party was established originally.

As a CQUniversity student, you will own copyright in any works you create such as essays, assignments and your thesis. If someone, including a member of staff, asks for permission to use your assignment or photograph, say on a University website, you should remember that while it may be a great compliment, it is your intellectual property and that you should consider the request carefully. It is always sensible to sign a release form setting out the types of uses permitted and to obtain advice if you have any concerns.

If you produce a work as part of a group project, the copyright will be owned jointly by the members of the group. More information in the CQUniversity IP principles.

Australia does not have a system of copyright registration. Once your work has been placed in a material form, that is, written down, recorded or filmed, it is protected by copyright.

Emerging practice: Students may consider Creative Commons licensing opens in a new window when publishing original creative works. This controls the conditions under which others may use original creative works without seeking permission.

Research grants, collaboration and copyright

If you receive funding from a grant, or are working collaboratively on a project, you should take time early on to sort out who owns the intellectual property in the work being created. Any agreement you sign is legally binding and may give rights to others, or take some rights away from you.

What does copyright protect?

Copyright does not protect ideas, styles or techniques, but it does protect the tangible work you create from an idea or using a specific style or technique. For example, copyright will not protect an idea for a film, but it will protect the script, storyboards, and sound track etc.

In Australia, copyright protection is automatic when new work is created, and there is no register of copyright material. The copyright symbol "©" does not need to be on a work for it to be covered. Some works such as films or musical recordings may contain several copyrights.

Copyright also protects content on social media and internet sites. Online content may be freely accessible, but it is not free from copyright.

The types of works copyright protects include:

  • Artistic Works
  • Literary Works
  • Musical Works
  • Dramatic works
  • Films and Moving Images
  • Sound Recordings
  • Broadcasts

For more details read Copyright and students from Smartcopying: The Official Guide to Copyright Issues for Australian Schools and TAFE opens in a new window)

How long does copyright last?

General rule in Australia: 70 years from the end of the year in which the creator died or 70 years from the end of the year in which the material was first published.

Before relying on the out-of-copyright status of a work, you should investigate the status of a work. This is outlined in the Australian Copyright Council's Duration of Copyright factsheet opens in a new window.

Copyright can't be extended. If copyright in an item has expired it is considered to be in the public domain, and you may use it without seeking permission or needing to comply with the conditions of the Copyright Act.

Unpublished material can have no expiration for copyright.

What are you doing if you're infringing copyright?

Copyright owners have the exclusive right to control copying and communication of their works to the public.

This includes

  • photocopying,
  • scanning,
  • downloading websites and forwarding content by email,
  • performing music in public,
  • translating text,
  • arranging music,
  • or dramatizing literary works.

Any of these actions, without permission of the copyright owner, or outside fair use conditions, would constitute an infringement of copyright.

What can a student copy for research or study without infringing copyright? (Fair Dealing)

If you want to use someone else’s work, you can generally only use it if:

  • Under Fair Dealing
  • Under free for educational purpose terms or Creative Commons licence.
  • With permission from copyright owner.

The Copyright Act is designed to provide a balance between rewarding creators and ensuring reasonable access by socially worthwhile purposes, such as research or study.

"Fair Dealing for the purposes of research or study" means that you can copy the following:

  • One article from a periodical publication (e.g. journal), or more than one article from the same issue if they relate to the "same research or course of study"
  • One chapter (or 10% of the pages) of a literary, dramatic or musical work (e.g. book, play, sheet music)
  • 10% of the number of words in a literary or dramatic work that is in electronic form
  • A "fair" amount of other types of works and subject matter, such as audio-visual materials, for study purposes (e.g. clips from films).
  • All of an item in an anthology, up to 15 pages.
  • The whole of an artistic work if it illustrates or accompanies text or music copied; or if it has not be published separately; or

For more guidance on what is "fair" see the Australian Copyright Council's Fair Dealing: What can I use without permission? infosheet opens in a new window.

What can I use in an assigment?

Students often rely on using the copyright of others. For example, you may want to include an image or diagram in an essay, or to perform a scene from a play in a class drama presentation.

In the context of your studies within the University, such uses are generally permitted. These images, diagrams and quotes must be referenced. However, the same material cannot be made public, such as put up on the internet, or performed to a public audience. You only have the right to use your own, original work if you are publishing it.

Can I download movies and music from the internet?

There are many internet sites offering free downloads of music, TV shows, movies and computer software. Unfortunately, many of these are illegal sites and much of the material on offer is pirated and has been made available without the copyright owner’s permission.

It can be very tempting to download music, movies and TV shows but it is dangerous, as you may be infringing copyright and committing a crime. The movie, music and software industries actively protect their intellectual property and use of file sharing services can be traced easily.

The Acceptable Use of ICT Facilities and Devices Policy prohibits the use of University computers and other ICT resources to download and store copyright material which is not properly licensed. The University reserves the right to monitor the use of ICT resources, and penalties can be imposed for improper use of University resources. These can include loss of access to ICT facilities, disciplinary action and even suspension of candidature.

Don’t risk your career by illegal downloading of music, movies and software. Play it safe and use licensed, legal websites when you download.

Remember you can legally copy a CD or recording that you own onto your iPod, MP3 player, hard disk or car stereo for your own private and domestic use under the Copyright Act.

How do I search for free to reuse content?

One way is to use the Google Advanced search opens in a new window.

  1. Type your search words into the boxes at the top.
  2. Go down to the usage rights field at the bottom and choose the type of usage that you need:
  • free to use or share
  • free to use or share, even commercially
  • free to use, share or modify.
  • free to use, share or modify, even commercially

 

See the Open Access Resources Library Guide for more information and places to search for:

  • Open Access Books
  • Open Access Journals
  • Open Access Images
  • Open Access Case Studies
  • Open Access Video and Music
  • Other Open Access Content

Print disabilities and copyright

The Copyright Act 1968 provides for a special copying licence for institutions assisting disabled students, in particular students with vision impairment. The Australian Copyright Council opens in a new window has produced Print Disability Copyright Guidelines opens in a new window which are available for download.

Under certain conditions, universities may be able to make sound recordings, Braille versions, large-print versions, translations and photographic/picture versions of literary or dramatic works for students, without infringing the copyright owner's rights.

However, the university must first make a reasonable investigation (i.e. contact the publishers/vendors) that no such version is commercially available within a reasonable time period at an ordinary commercial price.

All copies made for CQUniversity must be made by the Inclusion and Accessibility Service. Please contact accessibility@cqu.edu.au for details.

Frequently asked questions