Copyright for researchers and research students
Understand how copyright applies to the data and materials you use, create and publish as a Federation researcher or research student.
Copyright is important to consider throughout the research process – when you're using data and the work of others, publishing articles or your thesis and licensing your work. You need to be aware of the regulations (set out in the Australian Copyright Act 1968) so you won’t accidentally infringe someone else’s rights. Our best tip? Keep your material organised and request permission to use copyright material early (if necessary).
How to use copyright material
Using data
Who owns copyright for your work?
Any material you create while you're employed at Federation (using University resources, funding, facilities or supervision) is owned by the University, but you'll be granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use that material for research purposes.
If you take part in a University‑requested research project (like a PhD supported by University funding), copyright for the project outputs belongs to Federation. However, you'll own copyright for any theses you write.
Read our Intellectual Property Procedure or the Australian Copyright Council fact sheet for more info about ownership.
How others can use your work
If you're the copyright owner, you can decide whether you want to:
- apply all copyright law rights to your work
- release work with limitations under an open licence
- provide access to your work through a commercial vendor (publisher or platform)
- sign over your copyright to another person or organisation
- waive your rights and make your work available in the public domain
- allow people to use your work if they contact you directly for permission.
Licensing your work
Sharing your work
Join a training session
Contact us
If you have any questions about copyright, please email copyright@federation.edu.au or call (03) 5327 9876.