Copyright for teachers

Understanding copyright is especially important for teachers. When you teach at ACU you are required to follow Australian copyright law, this is explained in the Intellectual Property Policy.

The rights you have under copyright when you teach vary significantly from the rights of student and researchers, or the rights you have at home. Visit Copyright basics for an introduction to what copyright is, and more information on the types of material it covers.

Types of copyright licenced material

As a teacher you will likely encounter five main types of copyright material during your work.

It’s important to understand what these terms mean, and the type of material that is included. Visit Key terms and phrases for an introduction to these terms.

Explore the advantages of using open educational resources in your teaching.

Using copyright material in your teaching

Depending on the type of copyright material you use when you teach, there are different guidelines you will need to follow. Find more information about types of material protected by copyright in our Quick Guide—using copyright material in your teaching.

Common material types, and guidelines on how to use them - they can be any of the five main types of copyright material:

Audio

Audio includes music and recorded voice and is protected by copyright. It can be found on CDs, recorded from radio broadcasts or on the internet.

Using Audio material in your teaching

If the audio is from a radio station broadcast then ensure you check the Information sheet for statutory licences for rights and obligations under the statutory licence.

ACU has also purchased music licences to enable use of music at the university. Ensure you check the Information sheet for music licences for rights and obligations under these licences.

Audio-visual

Audio-visual material is protected by copyright and can be found on DVDs, recorded from broadcasts (television) or on the internet (catch up TV, vimeo, YouTube).

Audio-visual material contains multiple copyright materials depending on the topic, scripts, interviews, music, animations and performances, and therefore can have multiple copyright owners.

Using audio-visual material in your teaching

An educational exception under copyright is that it is always ok to play audio-visual material in a physical classroom. However, it may not be ok to record that video as part of a lecture capture system.

ACU recommends Creative Commons material is used when possible, as there is no risk of copyright infringement and no cost associated with their use.

If the video is from a broadcast ensure you check the Information sheet for statutory licences for rights and obligations under this licence.

Images

Images include diagrams, drawings, paintings or photographs. They can be found in a number of places including books, journals, posters, postcards, magazines and on the internet.

Using images in your teaching

ACU recommends Public Domain and Creative Commons materials are used when possible, as there is no risk of copyright infringement and no cost associated with their use.

Written material

Written material includes books, journals, newspapers, pamphlets and material from the Internet.

Using written material in your teaching

ACU recommends Public Domain and Creative Commons materials are used when possible, as there is no risk of copyright infringement and no cost associated with their use.

If you are creating a Reading List for your subject, or would like to link to online journal articles in Canvas, the Library has a guide to reading lists.

YouTube

Material on YouTube is uploaded under various licences:

Broadcasts uploaded to YouTube by the broadcaster becomes broadcasts.

Using YouTube videos in your teaching

Before you can use material from YouTube in your teaching—including in recorded lectures—you will need to check the licensing conditions the uploader has specified. See YouTube copyright and fair use.

Quick guide - using copyright material in your teaching

Description	In physical class for students	Captured via Lecture Capture	In Canvas via Leganto	On public internet
Description Description All rights reserved but I have permission from the copyright owner	In physical class for students In physical class for students Retain the permission. Send copy to Copyright Officer for long term storage.	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Retain the permission. Send copy to Copyright Officer for long term storage.	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Retain the permission. Send copy to Copyright Officer for long term storage.	On public internet On public internet Retain the permission. Ensure it includes 'on internet'.
Description Description Creative commons licensed	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet Maybe. Check details of Creative Commons licence.
Description Description Image/photo/diagram from a textbook	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Image/photo/diagram from the internet	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet Maybe. Check copyright.
Description Description Music - sourced legally	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Public Domain	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes. Works in the public domain vary from country to country.	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes. Works in the public domain vary from country to country.	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes. Works in the public domain vary from country to country.	On public internet On public internet Yes. Works in the public domain vary from country to country.
Description Description Text – book chapters/pages	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Text - I created (no copying from elsewhere)	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Text – journal articles	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Video – broadcast TV/radio	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Yes	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Yes	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Video - commercial	In physical class for students In physical class for students Yes	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture No	In LEO via Leganto In LEO No	On public internet On public internet No
Description Description Video - YouTube/ internet	In physical class for students In physical class for students Maybe. Check copyright.	Captured via Lecture Capture Captured via Lecture Capture Maybe. Check copyright.	In LEO via Leganto In LEO Maybe. Check copyright.	On public internet On public internet Maybe. Check copyright.

It is important to check the resources you use each semester to ensure they are still copyright compliant.

This Quick Guide provides examples of ways you can use different copyright material in your teaching.

Remember to always cite all sources used.

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