Coast Current respects the intellectual property rights of creators and is committed to responding promptly to clear notices of alleged copyright infringement. This Copyright & Takedown Policy explains how rights holders can request the removal of infringing material from coastcurrent.net, which is owned and operated by Southern Cross Press Pty Ltd (ACN 623 891 045), a New South Wales company with its registered office at Level 14, 1 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
Who is responsible for copyright compliance at Coast Current?
Thomas Walsh, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, oversees copyright compliance and takedown procedures at Coast Current. He can be reached at thomas.walsh@coastcurrent.net or on +61 2 5550 1906. All formal takedown notices must be sent to copyright@coastcurrent.net, which is monitored by Mr Walsh and the editorial team.
Southern Cross Press Pty Ltd, as the publisher, takes legal responsibility for all content published on coastcurrent.net. The company maintains a designated copyright agent to handle notices under applicable Australian and international copyright laws.
What types of content does this policy cover?
This policy covers all content published on coastcurrent.net, including written articles, photographs, illustrations, graphics, video, audio, infographics, data visualisations and any other original material. It also applies to user-generated content submitted through our platforms, such as comments, tips and reader submissions.
Image rights are a particular focus. Coast Current either licenses images from reputable stock agencies, commissions original photography, uses public domain works, or relies on fair dealing exceptions under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Every image is attributed where possible, and we maintain records of all licences and permissions.
How do I submit a takedown request?
To submit a valid takedown request, you must send a written notice to copyright@coastcurrent.net containing: your full name and contact details; a description of the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed; the exact URL or location of the allegedly infringing material on coastcurrent.net; a statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent or the law; and a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the rights holder or authorised to act on their behalf.
Notices must be signed physically or electronically. We will acknowledge receipt within two business days and investigate promptly. If the claim is valid, we will remove or disable access to the material and notify the affected party.
What happens after I submit a notice?
Upon receiving a valid takedown notice, Thomas Walsh or a designated editor will review the claim against our editorial policies and applicable law. If the material is found to infringe copyright, we will remove it within five business days and inform both the complainant and the original content provider.
If the material was published in error or under a mistaken understanding of fair dealing, we will issue a correction and update the relevant article. In cases of disputed ownership, we may temporarily remove the content pending resolution. Our full Corrections Policy and Complaints Procedure apply to all takedown-related disputes.
Can I submit a counter-notice if my content was removed?
Yes. If your content was removed due to a takedown notice and you believe it was done in error or that you have the legal right to publish it, you may submit a counter-notice to copyright@coastcurrent.net. Your counter-notice must include: your name and contact details; identification of the material removed and its original location; a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed by mistake or misidentification; and your consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia.
We will forward valid counter-notices to the original complainant. If the complainant does not file a court action within 14 business days, we may restore the material. This process is governed by our Terms of Use and the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).
How does Coast Current handle repeat infringers?
Southern Cross Press Pty Ltd maintains a policy of terminating the accounts of users who are repeat infringers of copyright. This applies to commenters, tipsters, contributors and any third party who repeatedly submits infringing material through our platforms.
We keep a confidential register of all takedown notices and counter-notices. Any user who has had three or more valid takedown notices issued against them within a 12-month period will have their account suspended and their access to submit content permanently revoked. This policy is detailed in our Terms of Use.
What about fair dealing and editorial use?
Coast Current relies on fair dealing provisions under Australian copyright law for purposes including news reporting, criticism, review, research and education. When we use copyrighted material under fair dealing, we ensure it is: used for a legitimate purpose; limited to what is necessary for that purpose; and accompanied by sufficient acknowledgement of the source.
Our editorial team, led by Editor-in-Chief Alex Chen, makes all fair dealing determinations. If you believe a particular use exceeds fair dealing, please contact copyright@coastcurrent.net. Our Editorial Policy provides further detail on how we source and attribute third-party content.
Our commitments
- We will respond to all valid takedown notices within five business days and remove infringing material promptly.
- We will maintain a public register of takedown requests, redacted for privacy, on our Contact page.
- We will never knowingly publish copyrighted material without appropriate licence, permission or fair dealing justification.
- We will provide clear counter-notice procedures and restore content promptly when claims are resolved in the publisher’s favour.
- We will terminate accounts of repeat infringers and report serious violations to the relevant authorities.