Unauthorised use of training and assessment resources in the training and education industry
The use of unlicensed training and assessment resources is a serious issue in the industry. This includes using copyright material without purchasing a license from the resource publishers. It is becoming increasingly common for training and assessment resources to be shared between friends working in different organisations. This is often done without the permission of the copyright owner and may be an infringement of copyright law.
Copyright owners have the exclusive right to control the use of their work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt it. If you use someone else's training and assessment resources without their permission, you may be infringing their copyright.
If you are found to have infringed someone's copyright, you could be liable for damages, or even face criminal charges.
To avoid infringing someone's copyright, make sure you get permission from the copyright owner before using their resources. You can also purchase a licence to use the resources, which will give you legal permission to use them.
This can lead to a number of problems, including:
- Fraudulent activity
- Reputational damage to the provider and the industry as a whole
- Resources not being updated on time
- Learners not receiving the full benefit of the training, and in some cases, may even put them at risk
- The copyright holder may take legal action against the organisation or individual who is using them
- Also damage an organisation's reputation, as it shows a lack of respect for intellectual property rights
What we do at CAQA Resources
At CAQA Resources, we maintain a copyright register for all sales we make. With every sale, the invoice and end user license agreement is shared with all providers. The regulatory body from time to time confirms the purchase of the resources and we update them in a timely fashion.
This helps us keep track of our resources and ensure that we are using them in compliance with all the applicable legislation and regulations. It also allows us to provide accurate information to our clients about their copyright status. The license holders of CAQA Resources are also entitled to free updates of their resources whenever a training product is superseded and deemed equivalent, among other things. If you have any questions about our copyright register or how we can help you with your copyright needs, please contact us.
All training and assessment resources must be purchased from a licensed provider in order to be used legally.
If you're not sure whether you need a licence or not, you can contact the copyright owner directly, or seek legal advice.
If you have any questions about copyright law and its implications for the training and assessment industry, please contact the Australian Copyright Council.
If you are caught using unlicensed resources, you may be liable for legal action. This could include damages injunctions and even criminal charges. To avoid these risks, make sure that you only use training and assessment resources that you have purchased a license for, and that you comply with the terms of your license.
It is important to only use licensed training and assessment resources from reputable providers. If you are unsure about whether a resource is licensed, you should contact the RTO resource provider to check the validity of the resource licenses.
If you have any questions about whether you are entitled to use a particular resource, please contact us at info@caqa.com.au.
