Copying music and video
Can I copy a commercially produced music CD or video tape that I own?
It is NOT legal to make a copy of a CD or DVD which is copy protected or a pirate copy.
Since December 2006 it IS legal to make a copy of a CD, vinyl record, audio or video cassette that you own (format-shifting), provided that it is not a pirate copy, regardless of format to be played on a device that you own (eg copying a CD to two MP3 players) or making copies to a computer to be then transferred to a media player or device that plays sound recordings, for your own private and domestic use. You cannot remove any copy protection applied to a sound or video recording.
There are conditions on the format-shifting of music which include:
- the copy you make must be only for your own private and domestic use,
- the copy you make must be for use with a playing device that you own,
- a copy must not be made from a ‘podcast’ of a radio broadcast or similar program (unless the podcast is licensed for private use),
- you cannot sell, swap, lend or give away to someone else (but you can loan it to a member of your family or household) a copy you make,
- you cannot keep any copy made from the original if you dispose of, give away, sell or swap the original copy of a sound recording,
- uploading a copy of a song to the internet is not allowed.
Further information
If you need more information, or are unsure about something, you can contact the Copyright Officer or obtain fact sheets from the Attorney-General's Department and the Australian Copyright Council websites.