What are my rights as a copyright holder?
A copyright holder has the right to use the © symbol to indicate that copyright subsists in the work upon which the symbol is used, and to indicate who owns the copyright. The use of the © symbol, however, is not mandatory.
Someone who employs the © symbol when not an owner would be liable for engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct.
Your other rights as a copyright holder include the right:
- to obtain a court order to stop someone unlawfully using (infringing) your copyright (this kind of order is an injunction)
- to grant a licence to another person (e.g. in other parts of Australia, in other industries, or in other countries) to exercise some of your rights as a copyright holder, in return for licence fees, royalties, or other payments
- to sell your copyright
- to give your copyright away in your will
Other rights depend upon the nature of the copyright work; for example:
| Rights | Computer software | Literary, dramatic and musical works (including databases, the text of a marketing plan or business plan, annual reports, operational manuals, technical specifications, letters and emails etc.) | Artistic works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy the work | √ | √ | √ |
| Publish the work | √ | √ | √ |
| Make an adaptation of the work | √ | ||
| Translate the work | √ | ||
| Perform the work | √ | ||
| Broadcast the work | √ | √ | √ |
| Make the work available on line | √ | √ | √ |
| Rent out the work | √ |