Students
Key copyright considerations for students with genAI:
Compliance
Students have a responsibility to be copyright compliant in their use of materials at the University, including with genAI (per the University's Copyright Compliance Policy). Uploading copyright materials to genAI without an appropriate licence or permission to do so can infringe copyright where there isn't an exception for this use in Australia's copyright legislation.
It is your responsibility to confirm that you are able to upload, or otherwise include, copyright materials as part of genAI prompts.
Data security
When uploading materials to genAI, be aware that not all tools are the same. Many tools take user prompts and materials and turn them into training data for their systems. This means that your work could end up being used in an output for someone else, possibly even verbatim. This is why data security is important for both your work and other copyright materials.
See the accordion for The importance of data security and privacy above for more information.
Coursework + assessment
Your use of materials with genAI in coursework and assessments may be covered by either a fair dealing exception or the educational statutory licence. Either way, there are restrictions around what and how much you may be able to use, plus limitations on what genAI tools can be used.
University-owned materials, including course/Canvas materials, can only be uploaded into systems endorsed by the Univerity (currently only Microsoft Copilot).
See the accordions for fair dealing, the educational statutory licence, and University-owned materials above for more information.
It's also important to check out the accordions for using your own materials and data security.
General use
Other uses with genAI may be covered by options such as a licensing/subscription agreement for publisher databases, open licensing like Creative Commons, or permissions granted by a copyright owner. At least some restrictions will likely apply to these options.
Do not assume that just because something is openly available online that you can use it with genAI.
See the accordions for publisher subscription agreements, Creative Commons, and permissions above for more information.
Recommended genAI tools
The University provides free enterprise access to Microsoft Copilot for students. When logged in through the University, students receive data security that covers anything shared with Copilot, whether in a prompt or uploaded as an attachment. This can provide greater certainty around uploading your own work.
Students wishing to get feedback on their assessments can also use Studiosity's Writing Feedback+ tool. It's also data-safe and can be used even where assessments don't allow for use of genAI. This is because it generates guidance for where you can improve your submission and doesn't make changes to your work the way some other tools like GrammarlyGo can.
See the accordions for Copilot, using your own materials, and data security above for more information.
Learn more
See the sections above on Copyright basics for genAI and Using copyright materials with genAI.
If you have questions around the use of genAI, check out the AI Tools guide or ask your lecturer.
HDR students should visit the Researchers and HDR students accordion below.
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