All content and published works on this website are copyright protected. If there is a need to use information from the website, permission is required from GALCAC. Material must be referenced as copyright GALCAC to avoid a breach of Australian copyright law. For permission please contact the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre.
Copyright, Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge Information
What is Copyright?
Copyright is the automatic rights given to someone when they produce something new such as a story, book, artwork, or film. Copyright is automatic given under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
Copyright can be placed over a distinct phrase and a sentence. But copyright can not be made over a word, language or material that is traditional knowledge for a group of people.
What is Traditional Knowledge (TK)?
Traditional knowledge is the term given to knowledge that is shared by a group of people. These people all share ownership of this knowledge. This includes myths, legends, stories, songs, dreaming stories, games, poems, traditional medicines, hunting methods etc.
TK can not be copyrighted by a person or organisation. Therefore TK is not protected under copyright law.
What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
Intellectual Property is the term given to a person’s material that they created by themselves. This includes stories, songs, poems, drawings, logos, inventions, medicines, paintings etc.
IP is protected under Australian copyright law. The person who made the knowledge owns it and the rights to it.
Copyright at the Goldfields Aboriginal Language Centre (GALCAC)
GALCAC is very careful to adhere to the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Policies and procedures were developed to ensure that each person’s copyright and IP is protected under the legislation. There are forms that are completed to make sure everyone is clear about copyright and ownership.
TK is not protected under the Copyright Act but GALCAC makes sure that policies and procedures respect each groups TK.
There is a lot of work that goes into ensuring that everyone’s copyright, IP and TK is respected and kept safe according to Australian law.
Copyright can not be placed over a language. However this is complicated when we use language to create a new material. For example, once the language is written into a book, the book will be copyrighted by GALCAC. The author owns the IP of the book and GALCAC owns copyright if GALCAC pays for the book’s production.
First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts
A set of national protocols have been established which guide the rights of First Nations people to their cultural heritage and supports First Nations creative practices.
The Protocols are there to make sure that First Nations people, organisations, artists, writers, film makers and all forms of creatives have protection for their rights.
These Protocols are in addition to the Copyright Act.
All GALCAC employees, contractors, volunteers and subsidiaries are required to adhere to these Protocols.
Further info on the protocols can be found at creative.gov.au