Infringements

Using Copyright Material - How do I avoid infringement?

In deciding whether and how you can use copyright material, the key question is: What is your purpose in using this material?

The following matrix outlines the main purposes for which staff may use copyright material:

Each option has its own terms and limits.

Note: Refer Copyright Flowchart for more detailed guidance.

Staff Responsibilities

It is an infringement to breach copyright. The individual staff member, who does not observe copyright rules and infringes copyright, could be open to prosecution particularly where the employer had taken all reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the law.

It may also be an infringement to authorise an infringement of copyright. A person is likely to have authorised an infringement when they have requested or instructed someone else to infringe copyright, or exercises a degree of control over the person infringing copyright or the means by which the infringing copy was made, or has countenanced, sanctioned or approved the infringement. You can be liable for unauthorised copies made on your equipment if you do not make users of the equipment aware of the copyright obligations. 

Copyright Notices

It is University policy that University equipment must not be used for any purpose that constitutes an infringement of copyright. Copyright notices must be placed adjacent to all photocopying machines, computers, scanners, and audio-visual equipment that can be used for copying.

Please refer to the Copyright Warning Notices for more information.