Copyright

Copyright provides legal protection for people who express ideas and information in certain forms. The most common forms are writing, visual images, music and moving images.

Some websites offer copyright protection or to "register" copyright for a fee. These websites have no authority to guarantee copyright protection.

'Intellectual property' (IP) is a phrase used to describe the rights creators use to protect their work. The following types of work contain IP: inventions, literary and artistic works, computer programs, databases, broadcasts, films, sound recordings, plant varieties, trademarks and designs.

We are responsible for managing the Copyright Act 1968. We also work on copyright policy in Australia, and international copyright issues.

We are also the lead agency for whole-of-government issues on the management of IP.

Position Description of Non-judicial members of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia

Applications are sought for the appointment of part-time non-judicial members to the Copyright Tribunal of Australia.

Australian Government intellectual property rules

Published 7th Dec 2015

The Australian Government has a lot of IP to protect, and all government agencies are responsible for managing the IP they produce.

Government use of copyright material

Published 7th Dec 2015

The Copyright Act 1968 sets out a government use statutory licence. Under this licence, the Australian Government is allowed to use whatever copyright material it needs, for official purposes

Marrakesh Treaty for people with print disability

Published 11th Dec 2015

Australia has ratified the Marrakesh Treaty, an international agreement that will help an estimated 285 million people worldwide have greater access to books published in accessible formats such as large print, braille or audio.

What's new

The Australian Government is looking to appoint up to two new part-time non-judicial members to the Copyright Tribunal of...

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Updating Australia's copyright laws

We have released for public comment proposed changes to Australia’s copyright laws designed to modernise and improve their...

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A new page for print disability

Australia has joined an international treaty that will help an estimated 285 million people with vision impairment worldwide...

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Marrakesh Treaty Options for Implementation

This treaty will give people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled greater access to works published in accessible formats, such as print, braille and audio.

Cost benefit analysis of copyright exceptions

We are currently working with Ernst and Young (EY) on economic analysis of some of the recommendations made by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in its Copyright and the Digital Economy report.

For more information on the economic analysis project, copyright [at] communications.gov.au (subject: Cost%20benefit%20analysis%20of%20copyright%20exceptions) (contact us).

Online copyright infringement

The Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Act 2015 allows copyright owners to apply to the Federal Court to order internet service providers to block access to particular overseas websites which breach copyright.

Collecting Societies

The aim of Copyright collecting societies is to ensure that Australians are rewarded for their creativity. Collecting societies are non-governmental groups which manage the rights of copyright owners.

Collecting societies negotiate licences with individuals and Government, and receive payments, which they pass onto copyright owners.

Music

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) are not-for-profit organisations which collect payments for people who create sounds.

We do not manage a whole-of-government agreement with these organisations, but below, you can access an example of an individual government agency agreement with APRA. This agreement can be used as a model for other agencies that use lyrics or publically perform musical works:

APRA AGD model agreement
APRA AGD information sheet

Copies of these documents can be obtained by copyright [at] communications.gov.au (subject: APRA%20AGD%20model%20agreement%20and%20information%20sheet) (contacting us)