Copyright is a legal concept that provides exclusive rights to creators of original works, such as literary works, musical works, films, and artistic works, to control how their works are used and distributed. Copyright law is intended to protect the rights of creators and to encourage the creation and dissemination of new works.
In Victoria, Australia, copyright law is governed by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) which is the federal legislation that applies throughout Australia. The Act provides a framework for the protection and enforcement of copyright.
Under the Act, copyright subsists in original works, and gives the copyright owner certain exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce the work, to perform the work in public, to publish the work, and to make adaptations of the work.
The Act also has provisions for moral rights, which protect the rights of creators to be acknowledged as the creators of the work and to object to the derogatory treatment of the work.
It's important to note that copyright applies automatically to original works as soon as they are created, and there is no requirement for registration. However, copyright can be registered with the Australian Copyright Council for the purpose of evidence in legal proceedings.
