We are open, find out what has changed.
What can I copy without the copyright owner's permission?
You do not need to obtain any permissions where:
Not all works in library collections have been protected by copyright during their existence, although other areas of law might apply. For example:
Australian copyright law allows you to copy or re-use in-copyright material in certain circumstances. The provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Act) (Cwlth) that set out these circumstances are known as exceptions. If an exception applies, you do not need to ask the copyright owner for permission to undertake acts within its scope.
For example, the fair dealing exceptions can apply when you copy material for the purpose of research, study, criticism, review, parody, satire, reporting the news, or giving legal advice.
The Act expressly states that certain acts constitute fair dealings, such as copying up to 10% or one chapter of a book or copying one article, for research or study. However, in other cases, you will need to consider the elements of fair dealing as set out in the Act. These are particularly relevant when you ask the State Library to reproduce collection material and supply a copy to you.There are also exceptions which allow some copying by cultural and educational institutions and on behalf of people with print or intellectual disabilities.
Amendments in 2017 introduced exceptions to facilitate the import and export of accessible formats or published works (in accordance with the Marrakesh Treaty) and exceptions that enable persons with a disability and anyone assisting them, as well as organisations assisting persons with a disability to use copyright material. The Australian Copyright Council website provides further information on the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures).
In addition, special restrictions not related to copyright often apply to the copying of rare or unique works in the library's collections. These may be due to preservation concerns, conditions of acquisition, or because of the operation of other laws (such as defamation and privacy).