Copyright is a type of intellectual property which provides legal protection for people who express original ideas and information in certain forms.
Copyright is protected by laws and international treaties that are intended to incentivise new creative works and innovation by rewarding creators for their works. At the same time, copyright law seeks to balance the need to provide reasonable access by users to protected works.
Torrens University Australia and its affiliated institutions (TUA) is committed to the proper observance of copyright law, and upholding the rights of creators and users.
In Australia, copyright law is set out in the Copyright Act 1968.
Copyright protection is automatic under Australian law and applies regardless of whether the copyright symbol © is present.
The Act gives protection to eight categories:
- Literary works (books, essays, poetry, conference papers, web pages, reports, computer programs, etc.)
- Dramatic works (plays, scripts/screenplays, dance choreography)
- Musical works (compositions and performances, but separate to the recordings of these), and
- Artistic works (paintings, drawings, photographs, illustrations, diagrams, sculptures, etc.)
- Cinematograph films (any audio-visual material)
- Sound recordings (of music, spoken word, compilation of sounds, etc.)
- Broadcasts (TV and radio) and
- Published editions of works.
The owner is usually the author or publisher of the work. The owner may give permission to others to use, publish, edit, play, perform etc.