This guide will help you understand the complex world of copyright, and provide resources to help you avoid violating the intellectual property rights of others.
If you have questions about the content of this guide contact us; however, librarians are not copyright lawyers and cannot provide legal advice.
Copyright law exists to provide creators with exclusive rights to their original works—both published and unpublished—for a limited duration. These protections apply to a wide range of creative outputs, including literary, musical, dramatic, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. Copyright law is also designed to promote science and the arts by facilitating the dissemination of knowledge.
Under U.S. law (Title 17 of the United States Code), copyright owners are granted the exclusive rights to:
It is illegal for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by the copyright law to the owner of copyright. These rights, however, are not unlimited in scope. Sections 107 through 121 of the 1976 Copyright Act establish limitations on these rights. One major limitation is the doctrine of “fair use.”
These rights are legally enforceable, and unauthorized use may constitute copyright infringement. However, the law includes specific limitations these rights. One major limitation is the fair use doctrine, which permits limited use of copyrighted material under specific conditions, particularly for purposes such as teaching, scholarship, research, and commentary.
Plagiarism is using someone else’s work or ideas and presenting them as your own. It’s an ethical issue and goes against academic honesty policies.
Copyright infringement is a legal issue. It happens when you use someone else’s copyrighted work without permission, even if you give them credit.
Citing your sources helps avoid plagiarism, but it doesn’t mean you’re safe from copyright violations. That’s where tools like Fair Use and Creative Commons come in. They help you use content legally under certain conditions.
Disclaimer: Material provided in this guide is intended as a helpful resource. Nothing in this guide should be construed as legal advice. Please consult with legal counsel before taking an action that might constitute copyright infringement.