Recipe copyright in Australia - does anyone know?

[brazen20au]

have jsut read this and wondering how we stand in australia?
http://www.elanaspantry.com/whose-recipes-are-they-anyway/

[versaceyoyo]

Karen, as with most legal questions, there is no cut and dried answer.  There is a good info sheet here on the Aust position - www.copyright.org.au/pdf/acc/infosheets_pdf/g019.pdf

Basically, if you copy a recipe word for word and re-publish it (eg on the internet) then I would say, strictly speaking, yes that is a breach of copyright.  However, if you adapt and existing recipe for use with the TMX then that it is a bit more borderline (arguable that it is not a breach).

[judydawn]

Looks like we are safe to convert any recipe for the TMX - our methods for preparation are so different to normal cooking.  Still think it right to give credit to the source of the original (?) recipe.

[brazen20au]

i'm with you judy

it is tricky isn't it VYY but good to know we are generally able to do that without a problem!

[meganjane]

It's an interesting issue.
The same thing happens with formula for skin and hair care products. People spend years developing them and then generously put the formula on forums and such and others just rip them off all call them theirs.
They soon get pulled up though, as others find out and report back to the original poster and then all hell breaks loose and a train wreck soon follows!!

[cookie1]

I've always understood that the ingredients for a recipe can't be copyright but the method and probably name can be. As judy said we alter the the method a lot when we convert so we should be fine. It is fair to say where we have adapted it from though if we do so.
An interesting concern though.