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Copyright information for Monash students

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Using the Internet at Monash

Copyright protection is taken extremely seriously at Monash University. The Internet makes resources such as music, videos, pictures and text easily available to the general public, and allows for rapid and easy transmission on to other users.

However, the web is not a copyright-free zone. The fact that it is technically possible to copy and transmit content from the web doesn't mean that it is legal. When you download, reproduce, share or email material from the Internet, you risk being in breach of copyright law if you are not aware of your rights and obligations.

Like print material, Internet content can only be used if one of the following applies

  • The copyright owner gives you written permission in response to a request for copyright clearance
  • The copyright owner has included a statement of permission in their materials
  • Your usage falls within the scope of the 'fair dealing' provisions in the Copyright Act (fair dealing provisions allow for limited amounts of material to be used for the purpose of research and study; criticism and review; parody and satire).

To use material legitimately, the original copies must be authorised by the copyright owner: reproducing illegal copies will result in infringement.

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Students may be liable

You are not anonymous when you use the Internet. Investigative bodies from the music and motion picture industries actively monitor the web to detect infringing activities. If complaints are received from these investigators or from copyright owners, the University will identify the responsible user and take action to prevent further infringements. This means imposing disciplinary measures on users, starting with the suspension of access rights.

If the copyright owners decide to take legal action against a student for copyright infringement, the student is personally liable for damages and costs and may be expelled from the University. Monash University will not defend or support students in court if they use Monash resources to carry out unlawful actions.

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Information technology use at Monash

In the absence of any specific permission or licence agreement that may allow such use, you cannot use your computer access at Monash to:

  • Download third-party copyright materials such as films, MP3 recordings, or software from the Internet
  • Upload third-party copyright material such as audio files, video files, software or commercial photographs to a Monash website and make them available to the public
  • Distribute by email any third-party copyright material (MP3s, video files, commercial photographs or software) to another person
  • Store third-party copyright material, including MP3s, video files, commercial photographs or software, on computers or servers

Monash policies prohibit students and staff from

  • Providing links on a Monash website that offer access to pirated or copyright infringing material;
  • Directing users to copy infringing material (pirated MP3s, video files, software, unauthorised document copies)

For details refer to the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Facilities by Students Policy within the Monash Policy Bank.

Peer-to-Peer file sharing programs

The use or installation of peer-to-peer file sharing programs is not permitted at Monash, unless you have been given explicit permission from the Head of School and only for legitimate research purposes. The University monitors the network for P2P usage and can easily identify a user who has used or installed a peer-to-peer file sharing program without these permissions.

If you use University resources such as Monash computer accounts or Monash email to carry out actions that infringe copyright you will be in breach of the IT Acceptable Use Policy and disciplinary action may be taken on this basis.

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Examples of infringing activities may include

  • Uploading other peoples' / companies' / organisations' content (eg audio files, video files, software, text, commercial photographs, etc) to a public access website without permission from the owners.
  • Emailing copyright material without permission of the owner: remember, even if you acquired the content legally, you may have done so under a licence, and that licence may prohibit further transmission.
  • Providing links which direct users to copyright infringing material (which could include unauthorised MP3 recordings, video files, software or commercial photographs, pirated scans of textbooks or books generally available for retail).
  • Storing unauthorised copyright material (including audio files/ MP3 recordings, video files, commercial photographs or software), on University computers or servers
  • Photocopying textbooks and selling or exchanging them on the web.

Refer also to these Copyright linking guidelines

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Using audio and audio-visual content

Personal research and study

Students may be able to rely on the Fair Dealing provisions in the Copyright Act when using DVDs, CDs or other audio / audio-visual content just for their own personal research and study. However, students are advised to be aware of any copyright warnings presented with the content, and of any licence restrictions that may apply to content acquired under contract (ie in a 'click to agree' licence or subscription). Fair Dealing may not apply in such cases.

Use in class

Students may also play DVDs, films, CDs or other audio or audio-visual resources in class (ie, as part of an assessment task). This kind of 'live' presentation or 'performance' of content is allowed under a different part of the Copyright Act (s. 28).

Can I show TV and radio programs in class?

Students are allowed to copy TV or radio programs for themselves.

If students play their copy in class (ie, as part of an assessment task) this is allowed under a different part of the Copyright Act (s. 28).

If students affix a Part VA label to their copy of a TV or radio broadcast program and permit the Department or School to retain this copy during semester, this copy (or parts thereof) can also be uploaded into MUSO (ie accessible only to other staff and students, not the general public) and/or further copies can be made for distribution among class members (free of charge) under the Part VA-Screenrights licence. All such copies must have the Part VA label attached; any the digital copy put in MUSO must also display the Part VA Copyright Warning notice.

Refer also to the advice on using audio-visual content on this site's Teaching page.

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Send an email inquiry to the University's Copyright Adviser.