Skip to Main Content

Copyright

Faculty, staff, and students need to know the ins and outs, and sometimes just the basics, of Copyright. Learn about what you can, and cannot, copy or use in your own work.

Understanding Copyright

Your Responsibility

It is your responsibility to not break Copyright laws. Consulting this guide is the first step to understanding Copyright.

Violating Copyright Laws

You may wonder what the harm is in violating Copyright laws. You can be sued. You can also fail assignments or be kicked out of school.

Your Rights

You have the right to use some materials in the pursuit of education. Your faculty member will likely use materials in your classroom that are under Copyright. They are doing so using the TEACH Act.

General Guidelines

Copyright laws are very detailed and specific. But generally, it is acceptable for you to copy materials if you:

  • Do not copy more than 10% of the work (or about a Chapter)
  • Do not use the material for profit
  • Do not share it on the web

Library Resources on Copyright and Copyright Instruction