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Copyright - Basic Information

Are you complying with Copyright Law? Ask yourself these questions…

  • Are you using online journal articles and putting them on the web?
  • Are you photocopying articles for teaching or research?
  • Are you using student work as examples in your teaching or research?
  • Are you copying or showing DVDs, CDs or material recorded from TV in your teaching or research?
  • Are you using images from the web in your lectures or research?
  • Have you downloaded or linked to MP3 files, movie files or TV programs from the internet?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, please consider the following information.

Copyright – The Basics

Each staff member is responsible for complying with Copyright Law.

  • Ownership of copyright is different to ownership of a physical copy of an item.
  • Just because you own a copy of a CD or book doesn’t mean you can copy it. That is the right of the copyright owner.
  • The creator of a work is normally the copyright owner. But this right can be assigned.
  • Copyright arises automatically once an item is created.
  • There can be many levels of copyright in a single item. A CD can include copyright in the music, the lyrics, the sound recording, the creator’s moral rights and the performers’ rights.
  • Use of copyright material will require permission from the copyright owner unless an exception applies.
  • There are exceptions to copyright which allow:
  • These allow reproduction and communication of copyright material by staff and students of the university, as long as the copying falls within the limits and purposes of these exceptions.

Limits on Copying

Whether staff or students are copying for their research or for teaching purposes there are limits on how much of a book, journal or other copyright material can be copied.

For books - 10% of the total number of pages or one chapter (whichever is greater)

  • For a journal or newspaper article, not from a Library electronic journal database - one article per issue of a journal can be copied.
  • For a journal or newspaper article from a Library electronic journal database – depends on the terms and conditions of that database.
  • For musical notation – 10% of the number of bars
  • For an image – all of the image if from an electronic source, or all of the image if from a hardcopy source and the image is not separately published and available for purchase, or all of the image if it is included as part of text and it exists to illustrate or explain the text.

For any other queries contact the Copyright Adviser on 9905 5732.

Copyright at Monash University – Course materials

When creating course materials, the policy framework is the Copyright of Courses and Units Policy and the Guidelines for Preparation of Web Based Materials.

When staff are using copyright material that is not owned by the University in course readings or unit guides they need to follow the terms and conditions of the Copyright Agency Limited (“CAL”) Licence the Screenrights Licence the Music Licence or the relevant database licences.

  • Readings/Reserve in the Library is the central processing unit for all text and music, placed online in reliance on the CAL Licence. Staff can send their reading list to the library, including journal articles and chapters of books. The library will process the list and place the readings online in compliance with copyright. For more information see CAL Restrictions and Part VB Statutory Licence Information.
  • Journal articles sourced from library databases should not be scanned and placed online. Instead, contact Readings and Reserve to make a link on a subject reading guide. They check the terms and conditions of the database for you.
  • If staff are using copyright material, such as cartoons or images, in online lecture notes, the notes must accessible only to Monash students. A CAL licence copyright warning notice must be included at the start of the lecture.
  • If staff want to include an article in a unit guide or course pack, which comes from an online journal database, please first check with the Copyright Adviser on 9905 5732.
  • When copying material, only one article from an issue of a journal or newspaper or one chapter or 10% of the total pages of a book can be reproduced. If staff need to copy more, contact the Copyright Adviser on 9905 5732

All course readers should contain a Monash copyright statement.

There is more information on compiling a course guide at 6 Tips for Compiling a Course Reader

Copyright at Monash University - Music

Limited amounts of sheet music can be copied under the CAL licence. Permission must be granted from the copyright owner before more can be copied. The copyright owner is usually the music publisher.

You can play sound recordings in your lectures, but they must be legitimate copies and not obtained from unauthorised peer to peer sites. Citation details and acknowledgment of the sources should be given.

If you want to copy music or stream music on your MUSO site, it must be within the repertoire and limits of the Music Licence or you must have permission from the copyright owner.

NOTE: A sound recording includes different layers of copyright, including the written music and the performer’s rights. All of these copyright owners must give permission

Copyright at Monash University - Audio visual

Staff or students can play legitimate copies of purchased or hired video or sound recordings in class, provided that the audience is limited to students and teachers who are taking part in the instruction.

But permission will be needed from the copyright owners before an audio-visual recording may be copied. There two exceptions to this:

To ensure compliance with the Screenrights licence requirements, all broadcast copying must include the Screenrights warning labels.

Use of Monash Computer Resources

Downloading of pirate copies of film, TV and music is a high risk area for the university. The Faculties maintain equipment for the use of students and the public. Use of this equipment, including computers and photocopiers, must be in accordance with Monash statutes and policies and all relevant laws. You cannot use your computer at Monash to:

  • Download films, MP3 recordings, or software from the internet
  • Upload audio files, video files, software or commercial photographs to a website and make them available to the public
  • Provide links on a website that offers copyright infringing material or direct users to copy infringing material, such as MP3s, video files and software
  • Send copyright material, such as MP3s, video files, commercial photographs or software, to another person using email
  • Store copyright material, including MP3s, video files, commercial photographs or software, on computers or servers

Use of Peer to Peer software is banned at Monash without permission from the Head of Department.

For more information see Staff IT Use Policy.

Copyright at Monash University – Help and More Information

The Copyright Adviser is Megan Deacon. She is responsible for providing information about copyright and answering queries on the use of copyright material for all university staff.  She can be contacted at: Copyright Office, Building 4, Phone (03) 9905 5732  Fax (03) 9905 8450 University.Copyright@lib.monash.edu.au

Other Intellectual Property Queries

The intellectual property framework at Monash is provided by the Intellectual Property statute and Regulations, the University Practice and Paid Outside Work Policy and the Commercialisation Guidelines. Any questions about Intellectual Property issues or ownership of copyright should be directed to the Solicitor's office.

Send inquiries to the university's Copyright Advisor.