Can I copy material from the internet for research?

As a result of special provisions in the Copyright Act, if you use copyright material for the purpose of research or study, you do not infringe copyright, provided your use is “fair”. Whether or not your use is fair will depend on all the circumstances.

What constitutes research and fair use?

The Act sets out two situations deemed fair when dealing with copyright material for research or study and sets out guidelines which should be applied in other cases. 

A “reasonable portion” of text or notated music 

If you are reproducing text or printed music from a hard copy edition of 10 or more pages, the Act deems that it is fair to copy: 

• 10% of the number of pages; or 

• one chapter, if the work is divided into chapters. 

For text material published in electronic form, it is deemed to be fair to copy: 

• 10% of the number of words; or 

• one chapter, if the work is divided into chapters. 

If the material is available in hardcopy and separately in electronic form, you can choose which form to use, and 

apply the relevant test to work out what is deemed to be fair.)

Can students ( university or school ) use music in videos that they make?

• Generally, you will need permission to use someone else’s music in a film or video. 

• There are a number of narrow and limited situations that may allow you to use someone else’s music without their permission. 

• You should get permission to record and use a person’s live performance in your film.