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Text works

Using literary, dramatic and musical works in the classroom and online

Academics can copy and communicate literary, dramatic and musical works (except for computer programs) for educational purposes under the educational statutory licence contained in the Copyright Act, and under another exception, perform such works in the classroom.

A communication of a text work occurs when material is emailed or made available to students online via the University Library’s Unit of Study Readings Service.


Academics must not copy and upload text works such as journal articles, book chapters and musical scores directly to the Learning Management System. Instead, send reading lists to the to the Library's Unit of Study Readings Service.


In the classroom
  • Academics can:

    • distribute a “reasonable portion” of a separately published literary or dramatic work in hard copy, including excerpts of separately published sheet music
    • perform literary and dramatic works
    • perform musical works
    • include excerpts of text in lecture presentations
    • lecture capture excerpts of text
Access online
  • Under the educational statutory licence academics can make text works available to students via the University Library’s Unit of Study Readings Service.

    • Unit of Study readings can be linked to the Learning Management System
    • Academics must not upload text works directly to the Learning Management System

    Access must be protected by Unikey.

Copying limits
  • Under the educational statutory licence, academics can only copy within the limits prescribed by our agreement with the Copyright Agency.

    The current agreement was entered into before the section 113P educational statutory licence commenced and does not terminate until 31 December 2018. However, the agreement provides that if the section 113P educational statutory licence is introduced during the term of the agreement, the University can copy and communicate works under the new educational statutory licence up to and including the amount that would have been permitted under Part VB (the old educational statutory licence).

    As a result, for each unit of study academics and other University staff can copy a “reasonable portion” of a work:

    • 10% or 1 chapter of a book (whichever is greater)
    • 10% of the words on a website. Determining 10% of the words on a website can be difficult. If this is the case, only copy what you need for the educational purpose
    • 10% of a printed music score

    We can exceed the copying limits (ie a whole book or entire play) where the work is not separately published or, if it is separately published, it is not available within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial price.

    In relation to journals, one article in a journal issue can be copied, more than one article if the articles are on the same subject.

Labelling and attribution

 

This information is provided as general information only. It provides a basic introduction to copyright and is not intended to be comprehensive.

Reviewed December 2017

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of people who have died.

The University of Sydney Library acknowledges that its facilities sit on the ancestral lands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have for thousands of generations exchanged knowledge for the benefit of all. Learn more