Many email jokes (including text, cartoons and photographs) are likely to be protected by copyright. This means that you will need permission to publish them. If the person who originally sent the jokes is the copyright owner, it is possible that some or all recipients have an “implied licence” to reproduce the jokes for personal use, or to forward the email. However, any such implied licence would not extend to publication of the jokes in a book.

It may be difficult, and in many cases impossible, to identify and contact the owner of copyright in this kind of material. The Copyright Act does not allow you to use material without permission merely on the basis that you can’t identify the copyright owner or can’t contact them, or if they fail to reply to your request for permission. You could discuss with your publisher whether it is willing to take the risk of publishing without permission.

For more information, see our information sheet Owners of copyright: how to find, available at www.copyright.org.au/permission.