Last updated 12 February 2026
Copyright owners have the right to:
- reproduce the work in a material form
- publish the work
- perform the work in public
- communicate the work to the public
- make an adaptation of the work
- do, in relation to a work that is an adaptation of the first-mentioned work, any of the acts specified above in relation to the first-mentioned work (s 31(1) Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) (Copyright Act)).
Right to reproduce
The right of reproduction is the fundamental right of a copyright owner to reproduce or make copies of the work (ss 31(1)(a)(i), 31(1)(b)(i), pt 4 div 2 Copyright Act). While reproduction is not defined in the Copyright Act, it includes the means by which copying takes place. For example typing, photocopying and scanning a document into a computer and hand copying would all be considered to be reproduction. Reproduction also includes the making of a sound recording or film of a literary, dramatic or musical work (s 21(1)). In the case of an artistic work, the reproduction of a two-dimensional work into the three dimensional and vice versa is also a reproduction for the purposes of the law (s 21(3)).
Right to publish
The right of publication applies to literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works. It is the right to divulge a work that has not previously been made public (s 31(1)(a)(ii) Copyright Act). Therefore, it is the right of first publication rather than a general right to distribute or control sale.
Right to communicate to the public
The right of communication to the public allows copyright owners to control how their work is electronically transmitted to the public or made available online. The right is technology neutral and covers a wide range of materials (ss 31(1)(a)(iv), 31(1)(b)(iii), 85(1)(c), 85(1)(c), 86(c) Copyright Act).
Right to adapt
The right to adapt a work applies to literary, dramatic or musical works. Adaptation means changing the work in some way. In the case of literary works, adaptation can also mean converting the work into another medium or form. For instance, a written story may be adapted by communicating it either partly or wholly in pictures, by translating it into a different language or by producing a dramatic version of a non-dramatic work and vice versa (s 31(1)(a)(vi) Copyright Act).
Right to perform
The right to perform allows the copyright owners of literary, dramatic and musical works to present the work in a public location. It also applies to owners of copyright in sound recordings to allow the work to be heard in public, and owners of copyright in film to allow the work to be seen or heard in public (ss 31(a)(iii), 85(1)(b), 86(b) Copyright Act). Examples of performances include in-house movies for hotel guests and instructional videos to staff before opening hours.