18/06/2009

Generally, students may not rely either on the research or study exceptions in the Copyright Act or on the AMCOS/ARIA licence (available to schools and universities) to synchronise music and sound recordings into films that are to be screened publicly.

 

We understand, however, that student films that incorporate music and sound recordings under the AMCOS/ARIA licence may be screened on school premises, but only to the school community. http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/MusicConsumers/MusicinBusiness/Schools.aspx

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If the tune is still protected by copyright and no special exception to infringement applies, you will need permission from the copyright owner, because this involves a reproduction of the music.

 

If you are doing this privately to sharpen your listening skills, you may be able to rely on the “research or study” exception to infringement.

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31.5.2008

The “research or study” exception in the Copyright Act is likely to include copying a piece of music in order to practise it for an exam. However, under this exception, you could generally only copy up to 10% of the number of pages if the work has been published in an edition of at least 10 pages. If you wanted to copy more than that, or if the music you want to copy is not published in an edition of at least 10 pages, you can only copy what is “fair” in all the circumstances.

 

If the piece of music you need is readily available for purchase, it will not normally be “fair” to copy all of it.

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