Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2004/Ownership of Naval imagery

Thousands of photographs of Navy and other Defence activities are taken each year for training, technical and publicity purposes.

Defence instructions for handling imagery, information security and public release apply to these photographs as to other official information.

The copyright of Navy pictures is owned by the Australian Government, and is automatically covered by the Crown copyright provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Neither the Navy nor any other Service or government organisation, excepting some statutory authorities, legally exercises individual copyright. Longstanding legal convention applies the umbrella term "Commonwealth Copyright" to Crown copyright material generated by the Navy, Army and Air Force, and Department of Defence.

A member of the Navy, other Services, or Public Service, whose picture is taken officially while on duty, particularly when in uniform, gives implied consent for that photograph to be used as required for official purposes.

Copyright and consent notwithstanding, SeaTalk will always seek to exercise good judgment and sensitivity in the publication of photographs of personnel. SeaTalk apologises to any member who may feel that any particular photograph has been published inappropriately.