Copyright protects:
- textual material (“literary works”) such as journal articles, novels, screenplays, poems, song lyrics and reports;
- computer programs (a sub-category of “literary works”);
- compilations (another sub-category of “literary works”) such as anthologies – the selection and arrangement of material may be protected separately from the individual items contained in the compilation;
- artistic works such as paintings, drawings, cartoons, sculpture, craft work, architectural plans, buildings, photographs, maps and plans;
- dramatic works such as choreography, screenplays, plays and mime pieces;
- musical works: that is, the music itself, separately from any lyrics or recording;
- cinematograph films: the visual images and sounds in a film, video or DVD are protected separately from any copyright in works recorded on the film or video, such as scripts and music;
- sound recordings: the particular recording itself is protected by copyright, in addition to, for example, the music or story that is recorded;
- broadcasts: TV and radio broadcasters have a copyright in their broadcasts, which is separate from the copyright in the films, music and other material which they broadcast; and
- published editions: publishers have copyright in their typographical arrangements, which is separate from the copyright in works reproduced in the edition (such as poems or illustrations or music).
Reference: Australian Copyright Council. Information Sheet G010v18: An Introduction to Copyright in Australia. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.org.au/
