Copyright Act 1968
Act No. 63 of 1968 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 26 July 2007 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 28 of 2007
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Part I—Preliminary 1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 4 Extension to external Territories .......................................................1 5 Exclusion of Imperial Copyright Act, 1911.......................................1 6 Repeal of Copyright Acts ..................................................................1 7 Act to bind the Crown .......................................................................2 8 Copyright not to subsist except by virtue of this Act.........................2 8A Prerogative rights of the Crown in the nature of copyright................2 9 Operation of other laws .....................................................................2 9A Application of the Criminal Code .....................................................3
Part II—Interpretation 4
10 Interpretation.....................................................................................4
10AA Non-infringing copy of a sound recording.......................................23
10AB Non-infringing copy of a computer program ...................................25
10AC Non-infringing copy of an electronic literary or music item............25
10AD Accessoriestoimported articles......................................................25
10A Declarations and notices relating to certain bodies and
institutions .......................................................................................26 11 Residence in a country not affected by temporary absence.............27 12 References to Parliament.................................................................27 13 Acts comprised in copyright............................................................27 14 Acts done in relation to substantial part of work or other
subject-matter deemed to be done in relation to the whole..............28 15 References to acts done with licence of owner of copyright............28 16 References to partial assignment of copyright.................................28 17 Statutory employment .....................................................................28 18 Libraries established or conducted for profit...................................29 19 References to Copyright Act, 1911..................................................29 20 Names under which work is published............................................29 21 Reproduction and copying of works and other subject-matter.........29 22 Provisions relating to the making of a work or other
subject-matter ..................................................................................30 23 Sound recordings and records..........................................................33 24 References to sounds and visual images embodied in an
article...............................................................................................33 25 Provisions relating to broadcasting..................................................33 27 Performance.....................................................................................34 28 Performance and communication of works or other
subject-matter in the course of educational instruction....................35 29 Publication.......................................................................................37
30 Ownership of copyright for particular purposes..............................39 30A Commercial rental arrangement ......................................................39
Part III—Copyright in original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works 41
Division 1—Nature, duration and ownership of copyright in
works 41 31 Nature of copyright in original works..............................................41 32 Original works in which copyright subsists.....................................43 33 Duration of copyright in original works..........................................43 34 Duration of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous
works...............................................................................................44 35 Ownership of copyright in original works.......................................44
Division 2—Infringement of copyright in works 47 36 Infringement by doing acts comprised in the copyright...................47 37 Infringement by importation for sale or hire....................................47 38 Infringement by sale and other dealings..........................................48 39 Infringement by permitting place of public entertainment to
be used for performance of work.....................................................49 39A Infringing copies made on machines installed in libraries and archives............................................................................................49 39B Communication by use of certain facilities .....................................50
Division 3—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
works 51 40 Fair dealing for purpose of research or study ..................................51 41 Fair dealing for purpose of criticism or review................................53 41A Fair dealing for purpose of parody or satire.....................................53 42 Fair dealing for purpose of reporting news......................................53 43 Reproduction for purpose of judicial proceedings or
professional advice..........................................................................54 43A Temporary reproductions made in the course of communication ................................................................................54 43B Temporary reproductions of works as part of a technical process of use..................................................................................54 43C Reproducing works in books, newspapers and periodical publications in different form forprivate use..................................55 44 Inclusion of works in collections for use by places of
education .........................................................................................57 44A Importation etc. of books.................................................................57 44B Reproduction of writing on approved label for containers for
chemical product .............................................................................60 44C Copyright subsisting in accessories etc. to imported articles...........61 44D Import of non-infringing copy of sound recording does not
infringe copyright in works recorded...............................................61
44E Importation and sale etc.ofcopies of computer programs..............62 44F Importation and sale etc. of copies of electronic literary or music items......................................................................................62
Division 4—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
literary, dramatic and musical works 64 45 Reading or recitation in public or for a broadcast............................64 46 Performance at premiseswhere persons reside or sleep..................64 47 Reproduction for purpose of broadcasting.......................................64 47AA Reproduction for the purpose ofsimulcasting.................................66 47A Sound broadcasts by holders of print disability radio licences........66
Division 4A—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
computer programs 70 47AB Meaning of computer program........................................................70 47B Reproduction for normal use or study of computer programs .........70 47C Back-up copy of computer programs...............................................71 47D Reproducing computer programs to make interoperable
products ...........................................................................................72 47E Reproducing computer programs to correct errors ..........................73 47F Reproducing computer programs for security testing......................74 47G Unauthorised use of copies or information......................................75 47H Agreements excluding operation of certain provisions....................75
Division 4B—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in artistic works 76 47J Reproducing photograph in different format for private use ...........76
Division 5—Copying of works in libraries or archives 78 48 Interpretation...................................................................................78 48A Copying by Parliamentary libraries for members of
Parliament........................................................................................78 49 Reproducing and communicating works by libraries and archives for users.............................................................................78 50 Reproducing and communicating works by libraries or archives for other libraries or archives ............................................83 51 Reproducing and communicating unpublished works in libraries or archives .........................................................................88 51AA Reproducing and communicating works in Australian Archives ..........................................................................................89 51A Reproducing and communicating works for preservation and other purposes..................................................................................90 51B Making preservation copies of significant works in key cultural institutions’ collections.......................................................92 52 Publication of unpublished works kept in libraries or archives............................................................................................93
53 Application of Division to illustrations accompanying
articles and other works...................................................................94
Division 6—Recording of musical works 96 54 Interpretation...................................................................................96 55 Conditions upon which manufacturer may make records of
musical work...................................................................................97 57 Provisions relating to royalty where 2 or more works are on the one record..................................................................................99 59 Conditions upon which manufacturer may include part of a literary or dramatic work in a record of a musical work..................99 60 Records made partly for retail sale and partly for gratuitous
disposal..........................................................................................101 61 Making inquiries in relation to previous records...........................102 64 Sections 55 and 59 to be disregarded in determining whether
an infringement has been committed by the importation of records ...........................................................................................103
Division 7—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
artistic works 104 65 Sculptures and certain other works in public places......................104 66 Buildingsand models of buildings................................................104 67 Incidental filming or televising of artistic works...........................104 68 Publication ofartistic works..........................................................104 70 Reproduction for purpose of including work in television
broadcast........................................................................................105 72 Reproduction ofpart ofwork in later work...................................106 73 Reconstruction of buildings...........................................................106
Division 8—Designs 107 74 Corresponding design....................................................................107 75 Copyright protection where corresponding design registered........107 76 False registration of industrial designs under the Designs Act
2003...............................................................................................107 77 Application of artistic works as industrial designs without registration of the designs..............................................................108 77A Certain reproductions of an artistic work do not infringe copyright........................................................................................110
Division 9—Works of joint authorship 112 78 References to all of joint authors...................................................112 79 References to any one ormore of joint authors.............................112 80 Referencesto whichever of joint authors died last........................112 81 Works of joint authorship published under pseudonyms...............112 82 Copyright to subsist in joint works without regard to any
author who is an unqualified person..............................................113 83 Inclusion of joint works in collections for use in places of education .......................................................................................113
Part IV—Copyright in subject-matter other than works 114
Division 1—Preliminary 114 84 Definitions.....................................................................................114
Division 2—Nature of copyright in subject-matter other than
works 116 85 Nature of copyright in sound recordings .......................................116 86 Nature of copyright in cinematograph films..................................116 87 Nature of copyright in television broadcasts and sound
broadcasts......................................................................................117 88 Nature of copyright in published editions of works.......................117
Division 3—Subject-matter, other than works, in which
copyright subsists 118 89 Sound recordings in which copyright subsists...............................118 90 Cinematograph films in which copyright subsists.........................118 91 Television broadcasts and sound broadcasts in which
copyright subsists..........................................................................118 92 Published editions of works in which copyright subsists...............119
Division 4—Duration of copyright in subject-matter other than
works 120 93 Duration of copyright in sound recordings....................................120 94 Duration of copyright in cinematograph films...............................120 95 Duration of copyright in television broadcasts and sound
broadcasts......................................................................................120 96 Duration of copyright in published editions of works ...................121
Division 5—Ownership of copyright in subject-matter other than works 122
Subdivision A—Ownership of copyright in subject-matter other
than works 122 97 Ownership of copyright in sound recordings.................................122 98 Ownership of copyright in cinematograph films ...........................122 99 Ownership of copyright in television broadcasts and sound
broadcasts......................................................................................123 100 Ownership of copyright in published editions of works................12
Act No. 63 of 1968 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 26 July 2007 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 28 of 2007
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Part I—Preliminary Part II—Interpretation 4
10 Interpretation.....................................................................................4
10AA Non-infringing copy of a sound recording.......................................23
10AB Non-infringing copy of a computer program ...................................25
10AC Non-infringing copy of an electronic literary or music item............25
10AD Accessoriestoimported articles......................................................25
10A Declarations and notices relating to certain bodies and
institutions .......................................................................................26 11 Residence in a country not affected by temporary absence.............27 12 References to Parliament.................................................................27 13 Acts comprised in copyright............................................................27 14 Acts done in relation to substantial part of work or other
subject-matter deemed to be done in relation to the whole..............28 15 References to acts done with licence of owner of copyright............28 16 References to partial assignment of copyright.................................28 17 Statutory employment .....................................................................28 18 Libraries established or conducted for profit...................................29 19 References to Copyright Act, 1911..................................................29 20 Names under which work is published............................................29 21 Reproduction and copying of works and other subject-matter.........29 22 Provisions relating to the making of a work or other
subject-matter ..................................................................................30 23 Sound recordings and records..........................................................33 24 References to sounds and visual images embodied in an
article...............................................................................................33 25 Provisions relating to broadcasting..................................................33 27 Performance.....................................................................................34 28 Performance and communication of works or other
subject-matter in the course of educational instruction....................35 29 Publication.......................................................................................37
30 Ownership of copyright for particular purposes..............................39 30A Commercial rental arrangement ......................................................39
Part III—Copyright in original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works 41
Division 1—Nature, duration and ownership of copyright in
works 41 31 Nature of copyright in original works..............................................41 32 Original works in which copyright subsists.....................................43 33 Duration of copyright in original works..........................................43 34 Duration of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous
works...............................................................................................44 35 Ownership of copyright in original works.......................................44
Division 2—Infringement of copyright in works 47 36 Infringement by doing acts comprised in the copyright...................47 37 Infringement by importation for sale or hire....................................47 38 Infringement by sale and other dealings..........................................48 39 Infringement by permitting place of public entertainment to
be used for performance of work.....................................................49 39A Infringing copies made on machines installed in libraries and archives............................................................................................49 39B Communication by use of certain facilities .....................................50
Division 3—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
works 51 40 Fair dealing for purpose of research or study ..................................51 41 Fair dealing for purpose of criticism or review................................53 41A Fair dealing for purpose of parody or satire.....................................53 42 Fair dealing for purpose of reporting news......................................53 43 Reproduction for purpose of judicial proceedings or
professional advice..........................................................................54 43A Temporary reproductions made in the course of communication ................................................................................54 43B Temporary reproductions of works as part of a technical process of use..................................................................................54 43C Reproducing works in books, newspapers and periodical publications in different form forprivate use..................................55 44 Inclusion of works in collections for use by places of
education .........................................................................................57 44A Importation etc. of books.................................................................57 44B Reproduction of writing on approved label for containers for
chemical product .............................................................................60 44C Copyright subsisting in accessories etc. to imported articles...........61 44D Import of non-infringing copy of sound recording does not
infringe copyright in works recorded...............................................61
44E Importation and sale etc.ofcopies of computer programs..............62 44F Importation and sale etc. of copies of electronic literary or music items......................................................................................62
Division 4—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
literary, dramatic and musical works 64 45 Reading or recitation in public or for a broadcast............................64 46 Performance at premiseswhere persons reside or sleep..................64 47 Reproduction for purpose of broadcasting.......................................64 47AA Reproduction for the purpose ofsimulcasting.................................66 47A Sound broadcasts by holders of print disability radio licences........66
Division 4A—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
computer programs 70 47AB Meaning of computer program........................................................70 47B Reproduction for normal use or study of computer programs .........70 47C Back-up copy of computer programs...............................................71 47D Reproducing computer programs to make interoperable
products ...........................................................................................72 47E Reproducing computer programs to correct errors ..........................73 47F Reproducing computer programs for security testing......................74 47G Unauthorised use of copies or information......................................75 47H Agreements excluding operation of certain provisions....................75
Division 4B—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in artistic works 76 47J Reproducing photograph in different format for private use ...........76
Division 5—Copying of works in libraries or archives 78 48 Interpretation...................................................................................78 48A Copying by Parliamentary libraries for members of
Parliament........................................................................................78 49 Reproducing and communicating works by libraries and archives for users.............................................................................78 50 Reproducing and communicating works by libraries or archives for other libraries or archives ............................................83 51 Reproducing and communicating unpublished works in libraries or archives .........................................................................88 51AA Reproducing and communicating works in Australian Archives ..........................................................................................89 51A Reproducing and communicating works for preservation and other purposes..................................................................................90 51B Making preservation copies of significant works in key cultural institutions’ collections.......................................................92 52 Publication of unpublished works kept in libraries or archives............................................................................................93
53 Application of Division to illustrations accompanying
articles and other works...................................................................94
Division 6—Recording of musical works 96 54 Interpretation...................................................................................96 55 Conditions upon which manufacturer may make records of
musical work...................................................................................97 57 Provisions relating to royalty where 2 or more works are on the one record..................................................................................99 59 Conditions upon which manufacturer may include part of a literary or dramatic work in a record of a musical work..................99 60 Records made partly for retail sale and partly for gratuitous
disposal..........................................................................................101 61 Making inquiries in relation to previous records...........................102 64 Sections 55 and 59 to be disregarded in determining whether
an infringement has been committed by the importation of records ...........................................................................................103
Division 7—Acts not constituting infringements of copyright in
artistic works 104 65 Sculptures and certain other works in public places......................104 66 Buildingsand models of buildings................................................104 67 Incidental filming or televising of artistic works...........................104 68 Publication ofartistic works..........................................................104 70 Reproduction for purpose of including work in television
broadcast........................................................................................105 72 Reproduction ofpart ofwork in later work...................................106 73 Reconstruction of buildings...........................................................106
Division 8—Designs 107 74 Corresponding design....................................................................107 75 Copyright protection where corresponding design registered........107 76 False registration of industrial designs under the Designs Act
2003...............................................................................................107 77 Application of artistic works as industrial designs without registration of the designs..............................................................108 77A Certain reproductions of an artistic work do not infringe copyright........................................................................................110
Division 9—Works of joint authorship 112 78 References to all of joint authors...................................................112 79 References to any one ormore of joint authors.............................112 80 Referencesto whichever of joint authors died last........................112 81 Works of joint authorship published under pseudonyms...............112 82 Copyright to subsist in joint works without regard to any
author who is an unqualified person..............................................113 83 Inclusion of joint works in collections for use in places of education .......................................................................................113
Part IV—Copyright in subject-matter other than works 114
Division 1—Preliminary 114 84 Definitions.....................................................................................114
Division 2—Nature of copyright in subject-matter other than
works 116 85 Nature of copyright in sound recordings .......................................116 86 Nature of copyright in cinematograph films..................................116 87 Nature of copyright in television broadcasts and sound
broadcasts......................................................................................117 88 Nature of copyright in published editions of works.......................117
Division 3—Subject-matter, other than works, in which
copyright subsists 118 89 Sound recordings in which copyright subsists...............................118 90 Cinematograph films in which copyright subsists.........................118 91 Television broadcasts and sound broadcasts in which
copyright subsists..........................................................................118 92 Published editions of works in which copyright subsists...............119
Division 4—Duration of copyright in subject-matter other than
works 120 93 Duration of copyright in sound recordings....................................120 94 Duration of copyright in cinematograph films...............................120 95 Duration of copyright in television broadcasts and sound
broadcasts......................................................................................120 96 Duration of copyright in published editions of works ...................121
Division 5—Ownership of copyright in subject-matter other than works 122
Subdivision A—Ownership of copyright in subject-matter other
than works 122 97 Ownership of copyright in sound recordings.................................122 98 Ownership of copyright in cinematograph films ...........................122 99 Ownership of copyright in television broadcasts and sound
broadcasts......................................................................................123 100 Ownership of copyright in published editions of works................12 Contents
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 4 Extension to external Territories .......................................................1 5 Exclusion of Imperial Copyright Act, 1911.......................................1 6 Repeal of Copyright Acts ..................................................................1 7 Act to bind the Crown .......................................................................2 8 Copyright not to subsist except by virtue of this Act.........................2 8A Prerogative rights of the Crown in the nature of copyright................2 9 Operation of other laws .....................................................................2 9A Application of the Criminal Code .....................................................3