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Copyright for University Events

Understanding Copyright
The university operates under a statutory licence which allows specific use of copyright material to occur. There are differences in copyright uses for teaching and learning activities to other activities across the university. The below information will explain how you can use copyrighted material at a range of different events.

Copyright in University Events

A University event is an event that the University organises, authorises and promotes to the wider community .e. g. graduation ceremony, concert, recital, play, open day, NAIDOC week celebration, food truck night, movie night, alumni evening, etc. Some events can span across a number of days. Events do not have to be held on campus to qualify as a University events. 

A university event does not cover events that the university participates in but does not organise.

Teaching and Learning is not considered a University Event. A copyright page is available for learning and teaching purposes.

  • If the ticket price (if applicable) is under $40 you can perform music (either live performance or sound recording). If the ticket price is over $40 you will need to organise an event licence with OneMusic. 
  • An audio recording or audiovisual recording can be made to play at a University event. But this cannot be remixed, arranged, adapted or mashed up in any way.
  • During the event if you make an in-context audio visual recording (i.e. record both visuals and music together) using an ARIA (commercial) sound recording you only share this after the event by:
    • Storing it on a password protected  University system, e.g. the LMS
    • Streaming it on the University website – as long as the website ends with .edu or .edu.au. This does not include making the file downloadable, it needs to play within the website with no download option. Providing it to staff and students in a physical format for free or at a cost recovery price.
  • After the event if you make a post-production synchronisation (i.e. the music is added using editing software) that uses an ARIA (commercial) sound recording you can :
    • Store it on a password protected  University system, e.g. the LMS
    • Provide it to staff and students in a physical format for free or at a cost recovery price.
  • You cannot share anything that features ARIA (commercial) sound recordings on any social media platform.
  • During the event if you use music that is performed by a university student or staff member or university musical group (even if that music is a cover of a commercial song), then you can use the recording in the following ways:
    • Store it on a password protected  University system, e.g. the LMS
    • Stream it on the University website – as long as the website ends with .edu or .edu.au. This does not include making the file downloadable, it needs to play within the website with no download option.
    • Stream it on the official University social media platforms. This does not include making the file downloadable, it needs to play within the platform with no download option.
    • Provide it to staff and students in a physical format for free or at a cost recovery price.
  • Students unions, guilds and societies owned and operated by the University cannot make videos containing music. These groups will need to organise a separate licence with OneMusic.
  • In a graduation ceremony you can perform music (either live performance or a sound recording). Ticket price is not an issue for graduation ceremonies.
  • An audio recording  or audiovisual recording  can be made to play at a graduation ceremony. But the music cannot be remixed, arranged, adapted or mashed up in any way.
  • The performance of live music is acceptable at a graduation ceremony. 
  • You can make a copy of the graduation ceremony available for streaming only (no download option) on the University website (ending in .edu or .edu.au) for 30 days from the date of the graduation. After 30 days the recording needs to move to another password protected university system that is available to students and staff only.
  • You cannot share anything that features commercial (ARIA ) sound recordings on any social media platform.
  • Non-educational screenings of films is not covered under any of the University licences. You will need to make sure you have a direct non-theatrical licence from Roadshow PPL or Amalgamated Films to screen a film. 
  • The university is however covered by the Tertiary Music Licence for the performance of the music that is contained in the movie. 
  • The ticket price of the event must not exceed $40 (plus GST).
  • A Musical is a form of Grand Right work. They are works where the music has been specifically written for the dramatic content, like Wicked or Les Miserables. Universities cannot perform Grand Right works in their entirety without a separately negotiated licence from OneMusic.
  • Universities cannot perform works in a Dramatic Context. This means that if you want to use music in a live stage production that uses a storyline and has one or more narrators or characters then you will need to seek further licensing from OneMusic.
  • Universities cannot perform any copyright work to which they have changed the lyrics or turned into a burlesque
  • An audio recording  or audiovisual recording can be made to play at a performance of a musical or a drama.

CQUniversity can perform copyright choral works up to 20 minutes in duration only. A performance of longer than 20 mins will require a separate licence from OneMusic.

  • The music licence taken up by CQUniversity covers the playing of music in the workplace for the benefit of University staff, including playing music on your telephone hold system or playing music at staff events such as Christmas parties.
  • CQUniversity can play music at staff events such as a Christmas party or morning tea.