Copyright Responsibilities

One of the delights of the use of the web and the internet is improved communications. A website can be viewed simultaneously by thousands of people. An email can also be distributed to thousands. The web is a powerful communicator. And, along with this potential, and exponentially, broadening base of new receivers of your messages comes some new responsibilities. 
 

Something that has the potential to be viewed by many must comply with a wider and more stringent set of public protocols. The old idea of a private club document and internal editorial integrity is not a part of this electronic environment. In essence, remember that material you distribute electronically needs to meet today's community social and legal standards. There are legal implications with public documents. There are issues of privacy, of discrimination and harassment and, the one that website developers must consider - copyright.
 

Copyright and the web:
It is important to remember that all original material, graphics, prose and even software, has an owner. In most instances, that person has a legal right to direct how and where their work is used. Unless you ask, and are granted permission to use another's work, you can infringe their copyright. The absence of a specific copyright statement does not mean work can be used freely. If you are creating a website, please take the time to access the following internet sites and read these articles.

Australian Copyright Council - follow links to the pages on digital copyright
 

Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts article on Digital Copyright and Web Publishers
 

DCITA FAQ page on the Digital Agenda Copyright Reforms
 

cultureandrecreation.gov.au website
 

Then use this information to ensure your internet activities are correct.