Administration of copyright in Australia
Between 1869 and 1899, all Australian colonies, with the exception of Tasmania, introduced legislation enabling authors and artists to copyright their literary, musical and artistic works. The colonial governments established agencies to administer the legislation and maintain registers of copyright. These records came under Commonwealth control from 1 January 1907 when the Copyright Act 1905 came into effect. Under the 1905 Act similar registration with the new Commonwealth Copyright Office was required to establish copyright, but this was discontinued under a new Copyright Act from 1968.
Holdings of copyright records
Records of copyright registration are held by a number of National Archives offices. The records include applications for copyright (including in many cases a copy of the literary script, musical score, artwork or photograph for which copyright was sought), registers of copyright, and indexes to the registers. Some of the works registered include literary and dramatic works, publications, photographs and musical scores by noted authors and artists from Australia’s past.
A comprehensive listing of records about copyright held by the National Archives can be found in the National Archives research guide, A Nation’s Imagination: Australia’s copyright records, 1854–1968. The guide is available for browsing in all research centres.
A selection of the record holdings relating to copyright is included in the table below. Unless otherwise indicated records are held in the National Office, Canberra.
Selected literary, dramatic and musical copyright records
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Applications for literary and dramatic copyright (with exhibits) | 1907–69 | A1336 |
| Registers of literary copyright | 1907–69 | A1957 |
| Printed copyright indexes | 1907–15 | A1960 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Registers of inward letters on copyright (records held in Sydney Office) | 1879–96 | SP1006/6 |
| Registers of proprietors of copyright (records held in Sydney Office) | 1879–1907 | SP1006/7 |
| Literary copyright files | 1906–43 | A1718 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Volume of copyright exhibits, B series (with index) | 1870–81 | A1188 |
| Literary copyright exhibits, B series | 1870–1911 | A1786 |
| Registers of proprietors of copyright, B series | 1870–1911 | A2389 |
| Victorian literary copyright applications, B series | 1907–20 | A1720 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Literary copyright files | 1887–1907 | A1716 |
| Register of copyright – books, dramatic pieces and musical works (records held in Brisbane Office) | 1877–1907 | BP5/10 |
| Name and subject index – copyright of books, dramatic pieces and musical works (records held in Brisbane Office) | 1877–1907 | BP5/11 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Applications – literary, dramatic and musical productions, pictures (records held in Adelaide Office) | 1878–1906 | AP476/4 |
| Register of copyright of literary, dramatic and musical productions, lectures (records held in Adelaide Office) | 1878–1906 | AP494/9 |
| Name index of applications for registration of literary, musical and dramatic copyrights (items held in Adelaide and Canberra) | 1916–36 | A1961 |
| Titles and subject index for literary, musical and dramatic copyright registration (items held in Adelaide and Canberra) | 1916–36 | A1962 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Literary copyright files (first series) | 1889–95 | A1722 |
| Register of copyright, numerical series (records held in Perth Office) | 1891–1907 | K17 |
| Literary copyright files (second series) | 1897–1907 | A1723 |
Selected artistic copyright records
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Applications for artistic copyright (with exhibits) | 1907–69 | A1861 |
| Registers of fine arts copyright | 1907–69 | A1958 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietors in copyright in paintings, drawings, works of sculpture, engravings and photographs (records held in Sydney Office) | 1879–1908 | C2229 |
| Registers of proprietors of copyright in fine arts (records held in Sydney Office) | 1879–1906 | SP1006/8 |
| Artistic copyright files | 1892–1906 | A1717 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Registers of proprietors of copyright, C series | 1870–1910 | A1187 |
| Artistic copyright, C series | 1871–1913 | A1719 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Name index to copyright works of art (records held in Brisbane Office) | 1890–1908 | BP5/12 |
| Fine arts copyright files | 1892–1906 | A1715 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Applications – paintings, drawings, works of sculpture, engravings and photographs (records held in Adelaide Office) | 1880–1908 | D4477 |
| Register of copyright in paintings, drawings, works of sculpture, engravings and photographs (records held in Adelaide Office) | 1880–1908 | AP494/10 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Register of copyright, numerical series (records held in Perth Office) | 1891–1907 | K17 |
| Fine arts copyright files | 1896–1906 | A1721 |