Copyright and teaching

The University generally owns the copyright of all learning materials you create. However, acknowledgement of authorship is still important, for both moral rights and future content identification. Include your name, followed by '© Federation University [year]' in the footer of documents (e.g. Prepared by Sue Smith © Federation University 2026).

In learning materials

If you'd like to give your students access to copyrighted text, the best thing to do is use the unit readings service to create a list of resources for your students. The links will be automatically checked and updated every week. Please don't hand out photocopies or copy and paste chunks of text into online platforms (unless you just want to use a small quote – permissible under the 'insubstantial portion' copyright exception).

In class

Teachers and enrolled students (but not parents, friends or any other community members) are allowed to perform or read out copyrighted texts during classes, tutorials or lectures without getting permission. Make sure you remember to attribute your sources, and don't store content for later access (e.g. don't add a recording to Moodle).

In exams

You can use any amount of copyright text when writing exam papers. However, we recommend attributing the content and adding the following notice:

This material has been copied [and communicated to you] in accordance with the exam copying exception in section 200(1A) of the Copyright Act. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act. Do not remove this notice.

There are no limits on using copyrighted images, but you can only use images from print sources if they're not available to purchase separately at an ordinary commercial price and in a reasonable time. This doesn't apply to digital images – you can use these any time without permission. You should include a copyright notice with any copied images.

If you use open-licence images (e.g. royalty-free stock photography), you don't have to include a copyright notice, but you must abide by the terms of the licence that applies.

In class

You can play full TV programs, films, radio broadcasts and podcasts in your live classes, tutorials or lectures (and provide links to students) without getting permission.

In a recorded class

If you're recording a class or lecture, you should pause it if you play a TV program, film, radio broadcast or podcast during the session, unless:

• you use an insubstantial portion
• you're critiquing or analysing the content
• it's broadcast licence material
• it's linked to Library database streaming content or is available freely online.

On a Federation platform

If you upload TV programs, films, radio broadcasts or podcasts to Moodle, they must fit one of the following: 

• covered under the terms and conditions of our screenrights licence
• an insubstantial portion
• copyright expired
• permission granted from the owner. 

You can't copy a commercial DVD and upload it to Moodle.

Any content you upload to FedFlix or Mahara must be an original creation (with license or permission covering any third-party content included).

Performing

You and your students can perform copyright musical works and sound recordings for educational purposes and university events under the terms and conditions of our tertiary music licence.

Recording

If you record a musical performance, you can:

• upload the video onto University social media channels and websites
• sell it in a physical format (like a DVD) to the University community only (for cost recovery purposes)
• store it on a password-protected University platform (like Moodle).

If you add commercial music to a video, you can sell it or store it (as above), but you can't upload it to social media.