ALIA's copyright advice service

Copyright notices

Here are texts of the prescribed notices set out under the Copyright Act regulations and explanations of how they are to be used.

The s.39A and s.104B copyright notice

Reproducible copy of the notice [ a new window will open... ]

This is the copyright notice to be placed at or as near as possible to copying machines in the library. These machines include photocopiers, computers, scanners and fax machines. The law requires that the notice be A4 in size (297mm by 210 mm). Displaying the notice at copying machines provides the library with legal protection if a library client breaches the Act in using the machine.

Where machines are able to copy print, digital and audio-visual material (for example, personal computers) both the s.39A and the s.104B notices should be attached to the machines or displayed as near as possible to them.

The s.104B notice (audio-visual materials)

Reproducible copy of the notice [ a new window will open... ]

The Copyright Act provides for a notice to protect libraries should their users infringe copyright in audio-visual material, such as films (digital or celluloid), compact discs, cassettes and video-tapes on copying machines in the library (or recorded music).

This notice should be attached or placed at or as near as possible to machines such as video-cassette recorders, cassette recorders, computers and other machines able to copy audio-visual content. The law requires that the notice be A4 in size (297mm by 210mm). To ensure protection and to educate their users in the legally permissible copying of information, libraries should attach both the s.39A and the s.104B notices to copying machines, certainly where machines (for example, personal computers) are able to copy print, digital and audio-visual material. All machines with internet access should have both notices attached.

The s.49 notice

(for electronic copying and communication by libraries and archives to users)

Reproducible copy of the notice [ a new window will open... ]

The Copyright Act requires that a library, information service or archive must provide this notice with electronic copies of material sent to a user. The notice can be provided before or concurrent with the supplying of the material. If a document is supplied by e-mail (for example) then the notice can be included in the e-mail. For obvious reasons, no form size is prescribed.