Copyright owners have exclusive rights over how their work is used:
- control over reproducing, publishing and communicating the work.
- copyright is inherent in creating a work. You do not need to register copyright.
- the creator of a work may not own the copyright:
- if work is created as part of employment, then copyright is usually owned by the employer
- copyright may be transferred
- publishers often take ownership of copyright as part of publication agreements (eg journal articles)
- if copyright is owned by, or transferred to, a third party the creator of the work retains 'moral rights' over the work:
- the right to be credited for the work
- the right for the work not to be falsely attributed
- not to have the work treated in a derogatory manner.
More information
Australian Copyright Council - Ownership of copyright.
Australian Copyright Council - Moral rights.
