How to copyright something in Australia: there’s no form, no fee and no register

Do you need to register copyright in Australia?

No. Here is what the official Australian sources say, word for word.

IP Australia’s Australian IP Report 2026, Chapter 6: Copyright says:

“In Australia, copyright is granted automatically from the time an original work is created and does not need to be registered.”

IP Australia’s First Response page, What is IP infringement?, says:

“Some types of IP, like patents, trade marks, and designs, must be officially registered with IP Australia to be protected. On the other hand, IP rights, such as copyright, are automatically protected when certain conditions are met.”

The same page lists a common myth, “It’s not registered, so I can use it”, and answers: “Some IP rights, like copyright, do not require registration to be protected.”

Who looks after copyright? IP Australia’s Types of IP page says: “The Attorney-General’s Department manages copyright in Australia.”

That’s the main difference from other kinds of intellectual property. The Attorney-General’s Department’s Copyright basics page says patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights “are different to copyright and need to be registered with IP Australia”.

The Australian Libraries and Archives Copyright Coalition, a sector group rather than a government body, puts it plainly on its requirements page: “You do not apply for copyright protection. There is no system of registration. And there are no fees to be paid.”

What copyright covers in Australia, and what it doesn’t

The Attorney-General’s Department lists these examples of material copyright protects:

• Literary works: books, articles, computer programs, software code, song lyrics and poems
• Artistic works: paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, maps, diagrams and works of artistic craftsmanship
• Musical works: compositions or arrangements
• Dramatic works: plays, scripts, dance choreography and mime performances
• Sound recordings
• Films
• Television and radio broadcasts
• Published editions, meaning the typographical arrangement in a book

What it doesn’t cover, in the department’s words:

“Copyright does not protect ideas or information, only the original expression of ideas or information.”

“Copyright does not usually protect names and titles, because these are not considered original enough.”

How long does it last? The general rule the department gives is “70 years after the death of the author for works”. Other kinds of material have different terms. The department’s duration of copyright table, linked from its Copyright basics page, sets them out.

How to copyright something in Australia, step by step

Because protection is automatic, these steps are about keeping good records, not applying for anything.

1. Make the work. Write it, record it, draw it or save it. Under the sources above, protection is automatic once the work exists. You don’t send anything to anyone.
2. Add a © notice if you like. Something like “© Jane Citizen 2026” is optional. The Australian Libraries and Archives Copyright Coalition says a notice “can be useful in evidencing you are the copyright owner and allowing potential users to identify and contact you.”
3. Keep your working files and early drafts in their original formats. Keep the layered image file, the music project, the manuscript versions and the code history, not just the final export. It helps to keep a dated draft history.
4. Note who made what. This matters most for team, client or commissioned work. Who owns copyright can depend on contracts and employment, so get advice if that applies to you. For plans and drawings, read our guide on who owns the copyright in house plans in Australia.
5. Optionally, make an independent, dated record of key files. A timestamp is one option. It’s covered further down.

Why people search for “copyright registration Australia”

Much of the copyright advice online is written for the United States, which does have a government registration system. It’s easy to assume Australia works the same way. It doesn’t. If you sell in the US, see what US copyright registration costs. The UK is closer to Australia: see copyright registration in the UK, where there’s no register either.

You may also find private “registry” websites that offer to record your work for a fee. These are private services, not a government register. What they record, and how you can check it later, varies by provider, so read their terms before you pay.

The older habit of posting a copy to yourself, often called “poor man’s copyright”, comes up here too. The Australian Libraries and Archives Copyright Coalition says that to get copyright protection in Australia “You do not need to send yourself a copy of the material by registered post.” Our page on the poor man’s copyright myth explains what a postmark can and can’t show.

What to keep as evidence of when your work existed

If someone ever questions when your work existed, these records help tell the story:

• drafts and earlier versions
• source files, such as PSD files, music (DAW) projects and code repositories
• emails and messages where you shared or discussed the work
• invoices and client briefs
• publication records, such as the date a post, album or book went public
• independent timestamps of key files

Your computer’s file dates are a weak record on their own, because they’re easy to change. See why a file’s date created can be changed.

Store copies in more than one place, and keep the originals unchanged.

What a timestamp shows, and what it doesn’t

TimeBinder works out a hash of your file on your own device. A hash is a fingerprint of the file: a short code calculated from the file’s exact contents. Change a single character and the fingerprint changes. The file itself is never uploaded. Only the fingerprint is anchored to the Bitcoin blockchain. There’s a step-by-step explanation on how TimeBinder works.

A TimeBind shows two things:

• an exact file existed no later than the recorded time, and
• the file you have now still matches its fingerprint.

You can include up to 10 files in one TimeBind. There are two types:

• Pooled (1 Token). Your fingerprint is grouped with other users’ and recorded on Bitcoin, usually within 24 to 48 hours, and often sooner, depending on Bitcoin network activity. It’s checked through TimeBinder. The Free plan’s monthly Token covers one Pooled TimeBind.
• ASAP (3 Tokens). It gets its own Bitcoin transaction, sent straight away. It can be checked independently with the certificate and the Bitcoin blockchain, without relying on TimeBinder.

Read more about ASAP vs Pooled verification.

Paid registries vs a timestamp vs doing nothing

Doing nothing extra is a perfectly reasonable choice for a lot of work. For more on how registration systems overseas differ from timestamps, see copyright registration vs a timestamp.

When TimeBinder isn’t the right tool

• You only need copyright itself. You already have it. Doing nothing extra is a fine choice for a lot of work.
• You want someone to hold a copy of your work. TimeBinder never receives your files, so it can’t store them for you.
• You need to show who made the work or who owns it. A timestamp can’t do that. Contracts, drafts, messages and witnesses are what speak to it.
• You’re already in a dispute. Records made at the time count most. Get legal advice rather than relying on anything created now.

Which plan fits

Most people dating the odd finished piece can stay on the Free plan: 1 Token a month, enough for one Pooled TimeBind. The Free plan’s monthly Token doesn’t roll over. If you date work most weeks, the pricing page lists Essential at $20 a month for 5 Tokens and Expert at $50 a month for 15 Tokens. Each paid plan replaces the Free plan’s monthly Token. Extra Tokens are $5 each, 3 for $15 or 9 for $40. Prices are in US dollars. Our guide to which plan you need walks through it.

When to get advice

Talk to a lawyer if you’re dealing with a dispute, a contract, work made as an employee or for a client, or licensing. The Australian Copyright Council also publishes information for creators that you may find useful as further reading.

This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, speak to a lawyer in your country.