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Copyright duration

Copyright protection does not last forever. The duration of copyright varies according to the type of material and whether or not it is published. In most cases copyright lasts 70 years from the end of the year in which the creator died or 70 years from the end of the year in which the material was first published.

To find out if a work is still protected by copyright or out-of-copyright, you are advised to check the 'Duration of Copyright' table on the Australian Government website.

If copyright in an item has expired, it is considered to be in the public domain, and may be used without seeking permission or the need to comply with the Copyright Act.

IMPORTANT: From 1 January 2019, new standard terms of copyright protection apply to original published and unpublished works, sound recordings and films.

The University of New England respects and acknowledges that its people, courses and facilities are built on land, and surrounded by a sense of belonging, both ancient and contemporary, of the world's oldest living culture. In doing so, UNE values and respects Indigenous knowledge systems as a vital part of the knowledge capital of Australia. We recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of the Aboriginal community and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future.