WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?

Copyright is the exclusive right, granted by law, to prevent the unauthorised copying and/or communication of written, artistic, dramatic, musical, digital or electronic work. It protects the ability of writers and creators to earn a fair income and is applied automatically to a work from the time it is first written down or recorded in some way.

In Australia, The Copyright Act of 1968 and its subsequent amendments provides this protection. The Digital Agenda Amendments (effective from on 1 March 2001), make allowances for new technologies - particularly computers and the Internet.

HOW DO I INFRINGE COPYRIGHT?

You are not legally able to copy anything without the permission of the copyright owner - even if the item is an unpublished work such as a letter or an essay. Recent changes to the Copyright Act ensure copyright owners also have the right to control the reproduction of their material and the right to control the communication of the material to the public.

For example - photocopying a book or a sheet of music, playing or performing a piece of music in public, copying a computer disk or taping a TV program. None of these things can be done without the written permission of the creator. In relation to the Internet, you may be infringing copyright by printing, saving to disk or emailing material from a web site to another person. Any person or institution found in breach of the Copyright Act can be prosecuted and heavy fines or jail sentences will be imposed.

CAN I COPY MATERIAL FROM THE INTERNET?

Yes you can, within the 10% rule. Do not assume that because something is on the Internet, that it is copyright free. Many webmasters give permission for people to copy, usually at the bottom of the page so check there first. Remember that copying from the Internet means printing or downloading to your hard drive or diskette. Unless you find a statement on the web site giving you permission, you cannot do either. Some webmasters provide an e-mail address so that you can contact them to arrange permission.

WHERE DO I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?

Go to http://www.copyright.org.au on the Internet. This is the Australian Copyright Council web site. By clicking on "information sheets", you can print off single copies of numerous different brochures on all aspects of copyright.

Go to http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ on the Internet. Search the Austlii database, using the 'Act Name Search' option for the full-text of the Copyright Act 1968.

WHAT DOES THE WEBMASTER OF THIS WEBSITE SAY ABOUT COPYRIGHT?

All visitors to my website are welcome to copy materials from each webpage unless specific instructions are given otherwise (as stated at the bottom of that page). Any intentional copying of my personal works where I have stated copyright requires an e-mail sent to the webmaster requesting permission to do so. A lot of time and effort has gone into creating these projects and by copying them without requesting my permission you are not only breaking the copyright laws but you are also stealing from the artist.