Smartcopying

National Copyright Guidelines

• Copyright - a general overview
• What can I copy/communicate?
• Library and Disability Copying
• Education Licences (Statutory and Voluntary Licences)
• How to clear rights (where there is no Statutory Licence or Voluntary Agreement in place)
• Hot Topics
• Glossary

1.9 What are the rights of a copyright owner?

| Back to Table of Contents |

Under the Copyright Act, the owner has certain exclusive rights to control the use of their copyright material. The rights differ according to the type of work protected.

1. Literary, dramatic and musical works

   The copyright owner has the right to:

   • reproduce the work in material form (eg photocopy or scan the work)
   • publish the work (supply copies to the public)
   • communicate the work to the public (by email, post work on intranet or Internet, make available online or to include the work on free-to-air or subscription TV
   • perform the work in public
   • make an adaptation of the work (eg writing a screenplay based on a novel, or a new arrangement of a song)
2. Artistic works

   The copyright owner has the right to:

   • reproduce the work in material form (ie to make a copy of the artwork such as reproductions on postcards)
   • publish the work (ie supply copies to the public; eg offer postcards for sale)
   • communicate the work to the public (by email, posting it on intranet or Internet or including the work on free-to-air or subscription TV)

   Back to top

3. Films

   The copyright owner has the right to:

   • make a copy of the film (eg to make a video or DVD copies)
   • show the film to the public (eg to show the film at a cinema)
   • communicate the film to the public (eg to show the film on free-to-air or subscription TV or to make the film available online)
4. Sound Recordings 

   The copyright owner has the right to:

   • make a copy of the sound recording (eg to make cassettes or CDs from the master)
   • play the recording in public (eg to play the recording in a shop as background music)
   • communicate the recording to the public (eg to make the recording available online)
   • enter into a commercial rental arrangement (eg allowing students to borrow the sound recording on commercial terms)
5. Broadcasts

   The copyright owner has the right to:

   • make a film or sound recording of the broadcast
   • re-broadcast the broadcast
   • communicate it to the public otherwise then by broadcasting it

Back to top

| Back to Table of Contents |

Print this page