Changes to the Australian Copyright Act, brought about in late 2006, now permit the transfer of music from one format to another for private copying purposes, subject to certain strict conditions.
Private copying: what’s allowed
As long as:
- you or a member of your household owns an non-infringing original copy or legal download of the music, and
- the copy is for your own private and domestic use, for playback on a device owned by you,
you may now copy the music from:
- a CD onto another CD,
- a CD onto a PC or an mp3 player, and
- a digital download onto an mp3 player or a CD.
What’s not allowed
Without the appropriate licences, you may not:
- copy a friend’s CD (or give your friend a CD for them to make a copy);
- copy from a CD if it is a pirate CD;
- copy a music file if it is an illegal download;
- swap songs on your mp3 player with someone else;
- make copies of a digital download outside any terms you enter into with the provider of the download (e.g. iTunes or BigPond Music);
- sell, rent or distribute at a later date (other than to the person's family or others in the person's household) either the source-recording or the copy; and
- copy the recording for the purpose of playing the source-recording or the copy in public or broadcasting it (i.e. in any circumstance where an APRA licence is required to perform/broadcast the music).
In essence, if you own the recording legally you can make copies of that recording for you or your family to listen to.
If you want to do anything else - you need the permission of the copyright owner.
Go to licence application»
Download the Casual Blanket Licence Guide »
Further Information
If you are interested in reading more about these changes, there is an excellent information sheet available from the Australian Copyright Council.