Using Websites for Educational Purposes
For a general information about copyright see Overview of Copyright. For general information about copyright & websites see Internet/WebPublishing.
The Copyright Act allows the University to reproduce and/or communicate websites for educational purposes. Communicate means to make the item available online or to email or fax the item to someone. It is recommended that you link to websites rather than printing them out or downloading copies. They are no restrictions on linking to websites, although you should not link to infringing sites. You should abide by any terms and conditions on the website. Providing the terms and conditions allow it, you can:
- save a webpage or website to include on the LMS (providing a link from the LMS to the webpage or site is preferred)
- cache a webpage or site for students to access at a later date
- make multiply copies of a webpage to give as handouts in class
- print out a webpage to include in a course pack or give as a handout
Some conditions and limitations apply:
- Limit the amount copied - what or how much you may download or print out from a website will depend on the content of the website:
- Text (including sheet music) - you may copy 10% of the total number of words. If the website is divided into chapters, then you may copy 1 chapter. (whichever is greatest). You may have more if the work is not commercially available electronically within a reasonable time at a reasonable price or if the terms & conditions of the website allow it.
- Images - you may download or print out in full.
- Podcasts of radio or T.V. broadcasts - can be downloaded in full. (if they meet the conditions for downloading podcasts). Other podcasts may be downloaded depending on the terms & conditions of the podcast.
- Sound Recordings - podcasts of radio broadcasts can be downloaded in full. Other sound recordings can be downloaded if the terms & conditions allow it. Do not download illegal (i.e. pirated) sound recordings.
- Films - podcasts of TV broadcasts can be downloaded in full. Other film can be downloaded if the terms & conditions allow it. Do not download illegal (i.e. pirated) films.
- There are no limits on the number of copies that you can make e.g. if there are 400 students in the course, you can make 400 copies, plus spares.
- It must be for educational purposes - educational purposes are defined as reproducing or communicating material for a particular course of instruction or for the administration of that course. They do not cover general or commercial activities of the University, such as marketing and promotion.
- You must attribute each website with a full citation - for information about correctly citing material see: Citation Styles within the University.
- If placing a copy of the website on the LMS you must also:
- Restrict access to University of Melbourne staff and students - material can be placed on a LMS but not on another open access website.
- Include a copyright warning notice on each website - the notice should appear either before the website is opened or on the first page of the website. Copies of the notices are available here.
- Register the website with the Copyright Office - any website placed online must be registered with the Copyright Office. You do not need to register websites that you have linked to.
Using Websites from Library Databases
Many websites are available electronically from library databases via Supersearch. It is recommended that you link to websites using the OpenURL generator.
Readings Online can help!
Readings Online is a service that can make your reading materials available online via the LMS. Simply provide a reading list to Readings Online and they will do the rest. For more information visit the Readings Online website.
Further Information
- Overview of Copyright
- Using Copyright Material for Research or Study
- Fast-Find Index - an A-Z glossary of copyright terms and topics
- Introduction to Copyright -a guide from the Copyright Office (b&w version for printing)
- Online Teaching Resources & Copyright - a guide from the Copyright Office ( b&w version for printing)
- Copyright: A User's Guide by Trevor Gerdsen. An online version of this text is also available.
- Contact the University Copyright Office