Australian law recognises that individuals have the right to protect the moral and economic interests arising from their creative works. Copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects a variety of literary, artistic, musical and dramatic endeavours as well as other things such as sound recordings and films. It is not ideas but their expression that are protected by copyright law.

In Australia, copyright law is governed by the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act), and in court decisions that have interpreted the provisions of the Act. The Act is amended from time to time to keep the law up to date.

The law gives owners of copyright exclusive rights to do certain things with their material. Copyright is intended to protect creative works from being used without the agreement of the owner and to provide an incentive for creators to continue to create new material.

Copyright is a type of property that can be traded just like other types of property, such as real estate. However, it is different from tangible property in that it can be copied or otherwise used easily without the knowledge of the owner.

More 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.

This information is for guidance only. It is not legal advice.