Copyright Information
The Library aspires to provide some legal information resources to inform users regarding copyright law. The Library does so in good faith to encourage patrons to utilize library materials in a responsible and legal manner. Please direct any questions you have on copyright law to a lawyer or other qualified subject matter expert. The Library cannot offer legal advice in these matters.
General Links for Information
- U. S. Copyright Law
- The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998: Summary – Full Text
- Public Domain
- Creative Commons
- Copyright – ALA
- Information Circulars and Fact Sheets
For Students
Students often misappropriate work as their own mistakenly though plagiarism. Plagiarism can be easily avoided. These are a small selection of resources.
Students may be tempted to scan copies of works for educational or research purposes. Here is some information to be made aware of if you wish to copy materials.
For Faculty
Faculty may be tempted to copy resources and distribute them to their students using section 107 on Fair Use. Please be aware that there are some limitations on Fair Use. These are some resources to help establish the legality of utilizing resources in the classroom.
- Details on Fair Use – US Copyright Office
- Distance Education and the TEACH Act
- Exceptions for Instructors
- Fair Use Evaluator
- Public Domain Tool
- Strategies for Fair Use
- The Copyright Genie
Other Links
- Bound by Law – Comic on the problems of Fair Use
- Doctrine of First Sale – Supreme Court case
- Georgia State University Copyright Case – Recent case ruling in favor of Fair Use