Copyright BEWARE

Can I copy information for research purposes?

Click here to go to the the Australian Copyright website.

"As a result of special provisions in the Copyright Act, if you use copyright material for the purpose of research or study, you do not infringe copyright, provided your use is “fair”. Whether or not your use is fair will depend on all the circumstances."

This may lead you to ask:  Legally, what constitutes research and fair use?

In a recent legal case, the Court said that “research” and “study” in the Copyright Act have the same meaning as in the Macquarie dictionary. 

Thus “research” means: 

 “diligent and systematic enquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover facts or principles...” 

and “study” includes: 

• “(1.) The application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection; 
• (2.) the cultivation of a particular branch of learning, science, or art:...
  
• (3.) a particular course of effort to acquire knowledge...
  
• (5.) a thorough examination and analysis of a particular subject...” 
  

While you do not technically need to be enrolled in a course of study, it is recommended that you visit this website for further information about copyright.  

Can students use music in videos that they make?

Generally, students will be able to dub music into videos they are making for class (see “Research" or "study” above). 

However, if the purpose for which the music is being dubbed includes other purposes, such as public screening, entry into competitions or broadcast on local TV, permission will generally be required from relevant copyright owners.  

In this instance, Generally, people who want to use copyright material need to contact copyright owners (usually a music publisher) to get permission. For pre-recorded music, permission may be needed from both the relevant music publisher and record company.  In a number of cases, copyright owners have set up procedures to make it easier to get permission.