The composers of the Australian classic hit song Down Under will have to hand over a share of earnings from the song for breach of copyright, but the amount they will receive will be much smaller than sought.

Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson in February ruled that the famous flute riff from Men at Work's 1980s song was the same as the children's tune, Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.

Listen to the two songs to compare

Music publisher Larrikin Music holds the copyright for the original melody, which was penned more than 75 years ago by Toorak teacher Marion Sinclair for a Girl Guides competition.