Navigating copyright at university can be challenging. This website will help you understand and manage your rights and responsibilities.
Did you know that content on the internet is protected by copyright even if it is free access?
You may be infringing copyright if you copy text, images, videos or music that are not your own regardless of whether the source is print, digital or analogue. However there are exceptions and licences that allow you to use some copyright material in your studies as well as your professional and personal life.
Read the Copyright Introduction to get started and understand the basics.
The Copyright Act fair dealing exception for research and study allows you to copy some material in your assignments without the permission of the copyright owner. This material should only be shared within the Charles Sturt network, usually that’s your lecturer, tutors and class.
Material that has a Creative Commons licence or another open licence can be used in accordance with the licence conditions.
Material that is out of copyright can be used freely.
Copyright protects both the moral rights of creators to be credited for their work and the economic rights of owners to copy, publish, perform, or adapt it. Referencing helps respect moral rights by ensuring creators are attributed.
However, referencing alone does not permit copying large portions of a work. Doing so without a licence or permission may still breach copyright.
Referencing also helps you avoid plagiarism, which is using someone else’s ideas or words as if they were your own. Even if you paraphrase, failing to cite the source is considered plagiarism, though it may not violate copyright.
For guidance and help with academic referencing, see Learning skills, Referencing on your student portal.
Just because something is free to read, watch or download online doesn’t mean you can copy or share it freely.
Most online content is protected by copyright unless it clearly says otherwise and you should assume you can only use it for personal, private use. Sharing or republishing content (like on blogs, public websites, or social media) usually requires permission or a licence.
At university you can copy some material under the fair dealing exception for research or study. This includes using images, videos, artworks, music, and literature (written material) in your assignments, but only if:
Fair dealing does not allow you to post or present copyright material publicly (like websites, public presentations, or publications). For anything beyond your assignment, get permission or use openly licensed content.
Also, if you had to accept terms and conditions to access content (like clicking 'I agree'), check those terms. Even if copyright law might allow use, ignoring the terms could breach a contract.
Helpful tip: Linking to a webpage is fine - as long as it’s not a pirate or infringing site.
For more info, check out the Copyright Council’s fact sheet: Internet: Copying and Downloading.
Journal articles and chapters of textbooks can be copied for study provided the amount copied from a single work is limited to:
If you ask the library for a digitisation request or an interlibrary loan you may notice that you have to tick a box, confirming you have read and agree to a copyright declaration:
Declaration in pursuance of s.49(1) of the Australian Copyright Act 1968 I request supply of a copy of an article or work specified above and hereby declare that I require the copy for the purpose of research or study, will not use it for any other purpose, and have not previously been supplied with a copy of the same article or work.
Unfortunately, copyright law does not allow you to copy more than one chapter or 10% of a textbook, but the library has copies of all prescribed and most recommended textbooks. Whenever possible, they are in eBook format for use online.
For more information about textbooks in the library, see Find your readings. Loan periods may be short if books are in high demand.
For more information about eBooks, see the eBooks libguide. Some of the eBooks can only be used by a few people at one time, or may limit downloads. Book publishers impose these limitations under the terms of library subscriptions.
Watch the video on eBook etiquette and make use of download options wherever possible.
If you are not able to borrow a hard copy or access an eBook for as long as you need:
When you write an assignment or thesis, produce an artwork or create anything original you will own the copyright unless the work has been done for hire or you have agreed to give the copyright to someone else such as a publisher.
This means that other people may need your permission to copy or use your work.
Refer to the module on Intellectual Property in Digital skills: content creation for information about protecting your copyright and other intellectual property.
Uploading your own work online to study sites such as Studocu or Coursehero may not be infringing copyright, however it may be considered collusion and a beach of academic integrity. Posting your lecture notes or assignments online is a breach of university copyright and academic integrity.
Students can perform or play music at events organised by student clubs and societies.
If you can't find what you're looking for or need more information, reach out to our Copyright and Open Content Librarian.