1.3.7 Internet hurdles

Using the internet is a daily part of life for most people, and you will almost certainly use it when you study at university. A lot of valuable information is available through the internet. However, it is important to remember that information on the internet is subject to copyright law and can therefore only be used as permitted under copyright legislation. It's important to know some of the common hurdles that can arise when using or sharing material online.

• Using material

  Am I allowed to use material from the internet for study and research purposes?

  You are allowed to use information from the internet. However, information on the internet is also copyright protected. Therefore, just because something is on the internet or available from multiple sources, doesn't automatically give you permission to copy it. Some websites give permission for material to be copied for educational and non-commercial purposes (in which case fair dealing provisions apply) but you should always check the website for details. However, you need to reference the information clearly and also refer to the website where you obtained the information from.

• Downloading

  Can I use downloaded material?

  You can only use material that has been downloaded legally and referenced properly. You are not allowed to use it if it has been illegally downloaded, for example, on a torrent or a peer-to-peer sharing website, even if you were not the person who downloaded it. It is best to ensure that you work from and reference the original site and the original information.

• Re-broadcasting

  Can I re-broadcast or post material online?

  You are only allowed to post or broadcast material online, for example, on YouTube or on a website, if:

  • you created the work/are the original creator of the work;
  • the work falls under a creative commons licence which allows for sharing for non-commercial purposes; or
  • you have obtained permission from the creator.

  This includes images, music, videos, text and other materials.

• Linking

  Can I link to or embed material in a website?

  You can link to material that is available legally on the internet, as long as you provide the direct link or URL to the web page, and do not link to material that is illegally obtained or in circumstances where linking breaches copyright. You cannot copy material from another source and then embed it in a website, unless the permissions allow or the copyright has expired.

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