I. Copyright Materials and Fair Use

Copyright is a form of legal protection that allows the creator/s of works of art (literature, music, painting, photography, dance, and other forms of creative expression) to control some reproduction and distribution of their work. Title 17 of the United States Code is the foundation for our copyright law and remains largely unchanged since it was passed in 1976, with the exceptions of DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and the TEACH Act. Determining whether a work is copyrighted is more than looking for a copyright symbol (©), which is no longer required. To be safe, you should assume that a work is copyrighted. Under certain circumstances, you may use copyrighted materials in your class without obtaining permission. Faculty members have an obligation to understand copyright in the academic environment and to further understand the limitations of Fair Use. The library, library website, and librarians are good places to find information if you have any questions.