Copyright - screen 4
How does copyright work in a digital environment?
Copyright works in the same way in a digital environment as it does with books.
- Similar copying limits apply in a digital environment.
- As a general rule, students should check for a copyright notice attached to any material on the internet. Just because it is online does not mean that it is copyright free.
- As copyright is internationally recognised and Australia, through various agreements and treaties, respects the copyright of other nations and they ours, material on overseas websites may also be copyright.
The Copyright Act was amended in 2000 in response to the rapid growth of use of the internet. The Copyright Amendment (Digital Agenda) Act 2000 gives the owners of material on the internet certain exclusive rights. These include:
- the right to reproduce material
- the right to communicate the material to the public.
Q: What is a communication right?
A communication right is an extra right in addition to copyright associated with the internet. It relates to the online transmission of material and is usually controlled jointly by the author and the publisher.
Q: How can you download copyright-free images?
To find images that are copyright-free, type 'copyright-free images' into your search engine, eg Google, and you will find many images which do not require copyright clearance. You should check carefully what rights the owner actually allows you when you select any images for use, by reading the 'Terms of Use' or 'Copyright' sections on each website. If this information is not available, you cannot assume that material is copyright-free.
Q: Does 'copyright free' always mean that I can just use an image or content?
Not always. There may be obligations such as attribution, or you may have to register or subscribe to a site before using the image or content.
Q: What is the international symbol indicating copyright?
© is the internationally recognised copyright symbol.
Q: How do you contact an author or web page creator to ask for online copyright permission?
Contact the web page author or publisher through the 'Contact Us' email link or click on 'About Us' to get their phone number. It is best to get all answers in writing, so emailing is often the best option.
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