Candidate's Guide - Thesis Copyright

The copyright for the thesis remains with the candidate. The University, however, is of the view that important contributions to knowledge are effective only when suitably available for reference and consideration. The University therefore reserves the right to allow free access to the copy of the thesis retained by the Library, subject to the short-term restrictions arising from possible commercial application of the work described in the thesis. In some cases, the whole or part of a thesis might have to be further restricted because of the nature of the material. Consultation or reference to that copy will be under the normal academic custom relating to research; that is, anyone wishing to reproduce or otherwise use the contents of the thesis will do so only with the permission of the author and in circumstances where full recognition is given to the work of the author.

The University of Newcastle, along with 20 other Australian universities, is involved with a worldwide networked digital library of theses and dissertations. From 2008, in addition to the hard bound copy of your thesis, you must submit the final corrected version of the thesis on line via the Australian Digital Theses Project (ADT). By making your thesis part of the program, you give free internet access to those who may be interested in your research. For more information, see Newcastle's ADT web-page: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/services/library/adt/.

Useful information on copyright and online repositories is available in the paper: Copyright Guide for Research Students: What you need to know about copyright before depositing your electronic thesis in an online repository. This guide has been prepared by the Faculty of Law at Queensland University of Technology and was funded by the Federal Government.

Further information on copyright for enrolled candidates is is available from the RHD candidates' Blackboard site.

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