Copyright for Students and Researchers at UNE
Your Copyright in your Own Work - Individuals’ Rights
Students and researchers own the copyright in their own, original work. As outlined in the introductory section, copyright protection is automatic and there is no need to register your work for it to be protected by copyright. You are free to use your work in any way you like, including putting it on the internet, entering it in a competition, or selling it to a publisher. Should a UNE staff member want to make use of something you have created as, perhaps, an example of students’ work, they would need to ask your permission to use it.
UNE staff members who are also researchers, should be aware of the conditions of the IP Policy and their individual employment contract, particularly if they want to publish their work.
The standard copyright protection notice is not a requirement. However, whether you intend to publish it or not, you may want to attach it on works that you create to ensure that others are aware of your claim of ownership. The notice should identify the owner and the year in which the work was created:
© [or Copyright] [Your Name] [Date of Creation] All rights reserved.
For example: Copyright A. Smith 2011
Or
© Alex Smith 2011 All rights reserved.
Important exceptions:
If you receive funding from a grant, or are working collaboratively on a project, you should take time early on to sort out who owns the intellectual property in the work being created. Any agreement you sign is legally binding and may give rights to others, or take some rights away from you.
Students often rely on using the copyright of others. For example, you may want to include an image or diagram in an essay, or to perform a drama excerpt in a class drama presentation. In the context of your studies within the University, such uses are generally permitted (see Using the Copyright of Others). However, the same material cannot be made public, such as put up on the internet, or performed to a public audience. You only have the right to use your own, original work.
Emerging practice
Rather than simply accepting the rights automatically granted to you under the Copyright Act, you may want to consider Creative Commons licencing, which allows you to state the conditions under which others may use your work without the need to seek your permission. More information can be found at: http://creativecommons.org.au/
More information
The Attorney–General’s Department's 'Copyright Law in Australia – A Short Guide' is available at: http://www.ag.gov.au/copyright/shortguide
The Australian Copyright Council publishes useful information sheets on specific aspects of copyright: http://www.copyright.org.au/