About copyright

Purpose of copyright, who owns copyright, duration, getting permission, infringement, copyright overseas.

Copyright is a law that applies to forms of expression or content such as text, images and music. It enables people who create and invest in content to manage how others use the content. Copyright applies to the content automatically; there is no requirement to register or go through any other formal process.

The purpose of copyright is to provide an environment that fosters the creation of new content for the benefit of society of a whole. It does this by:

  • providing an incentive for the creation of new content, by enabling those who create and invest in new content to set the terms on which others can use the content. Those terms can (but may not) include payment.
  • enabling reward to people who have created content that others find valuable, and lack the skill or time to produce for themselves.

The government-appointed committee whose report led to the introduction of Australia's current Copyright Act said:

The primary end of the law on this subject is to give to the author of a creative work his just reward for the benefit he has bestowed on the community and also to encourage the making of further creative works.

In order to achieve its objectives, the copyright system treats different types of uses of content in different ways. Some uses require the permission (licence) of the copyright owner, enabling the copyright owner to set the terms of use. Some uses do not require permission, but do require fair payment under statutory licences. Some uses do not require permission or payment: see here.

Information from Australian Copyright Council

The Australian Copyright Council publishes information sheets and detailed guides, offers a legal advice service and runs an annual training program.