Copying Material

What is Copyright?

In Australia, the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act), recognises that individuals have the right to protect the moral and economic interests arising from the works that they have created. Without copyright law, there would be no or little incentive for authors and artists to continue to create new material.

Please note in the following guidelines, “reproducing” and “photocopying” are inter-changeable and the advice given includes photocopying and replicating in digital format.

Students

Can I quote or reproduce someone else’s work, and do I have to give them credit?

In academic writing: Academic writing is distinguished by its use of references to the words, information and ideas of others.

You should always acknowledge the creator, publisher and title of the work used in your writing by referencing. How to reference.

Photocopying: As an individual student you can photocopy a limited amount of work:

• Books - You can copy no more than 10% or one chapter of the book for the purpose of research or study. This is not negated by copying in 10% lots.
• Periodicals - 1 article or more if the same subject matter.
• Materials for individual criticism or review provided the material is acknowledged.
• Unavailable works which cannot be made available in a reasonable time and at an acceptable price.

Educators and Trainers

If I quote or reproduce someone else’s work, do I have to give them credit?

In teaching and training resources: You should always acknowledge the creator, publisher and title of the work.

Can I photocopy someone else’s work?

Generally no, but there are some exemptions depending upon whether your institution is covered by a Copyright Agency Ltd (CAL) Statutory Licence.

CAL is the Australian collecting society for the administration of the statutory licence for certain types of copying by educational providers. CAL audits educational providers and distributes money back to the copyright holders. Educational providers need to register for a statutory licence with the (CAL).

Is my institution covered by a CAL statutory licence?

All universities, TAFE institutes, government and Catholic schools are covered by the statutory licence. CAL also offers voluntary copying licences.

If your organisation does not operate under a statutory licence scheme, every time you copy materials for students not created by your organisation you will need to obtain a licence or get permission from the copyright owner.

My institute is covered by a CAL statutory licence:

What can I photocopy free of charge?

• Books - You can copy no more that 10% or one chapter of the book for the purpose of research or study.
  1. This is not negated by copying in 10% lots.
  2. The copied work can not be resold at a profit either as a single saleable item or as part of materials included in a course fee.
• Periodicals - 1 article or more if the same subject matter.
• Materials for individual criticism or review provided the material is acknowledged.
• Unavailable works which cannot be made available in a reasonable time and at an acceptable price.
• Instructors’ manuals - provided you have adopted the accompanying text and copies are not for re-sale. Care should be taken not to remove the name of the copyright holder when photocopying nor should any instructor’s material be directly provided to students.
• Blackline masters (there is generally a note to this effect on the imprint page of the book or the foot of a page that constitutes a blackline master).

How many copies can I make?

Unless the copyright holder has included specific instructions within the work, there is no limit to the number of copies you can make. However, the number of copies you make should only be for the educational purposes of the institute and within copyright law.

My institute is not covered by a CAL statutory licence.

If your organisation does not operate under a statutory licence scheme, every time you copy materials for students not created by your organisation you will need to obtain a licence or get permission from the copyright owner.

I wish to copy and include part of an original PEA work in my teaching and training resources. What should I do?

Requests such as this are called permissions. Permission is granted by the copyright holder and can involve a fee. You will need to contact Pearson Education.

Can I post PowerPoint slides on my course website?

You may post our copyright-controlled PowerPoint slides on your password-protected course website, where the text has been adopted and access is restricted to enrolled students, instructors and content administrators only. Permission is not granted for content to be posted on websites for general use. Please contact copyright@pearsoned.com.au to confirm your adoption of the text prior to posting PowerPoints.

Further Information

The Australian Copyright Council website contains detailed advice about copyright in Australia. It includes user friendly information and information sheets explaining how copyright applies in the Australian Educational and Training environment.

The Copyright Kitchen is an initiative of the Australian Flexible Leaning Framework. This user friendly site gives vocational educational and training (VET) practitioners a clear understanding of copyright by breaking up copyright information into categories built around the user, the task and hand and where they work.

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