FAQs
I have been asked to distribute copyrighted materials to a class as part of my job. How do I know if it is OK to do so?
You have a few options. If the materials are being prepared for use in a course, fair use provisions may or may not apply. The best way to know for sure is to ask the faculty member associated with the course if they have done a four-factors analysis for any of the given works. You can browse this web site for further information about a variety of material types such as text, recorded audio, films and other resources.
There have been a number of attempts to establish clear guidelines for different media types and uses associated with fair use. One such set of guidelines is known as the classrooms guidelines, which includes a list of accepted uses of textual materials that are still under copyright <http://www.lib.umn.edu/copyright/classguide.phtml>. The best way to assess if a proposed use falls under the fair use provision is to consider it in light of the four factors test. The classroom guidelines provide a minimal interpretation of uses that can be considered fair use. However, the best assessment of appropriate fair uses is the four-factors test.
Finally, there is an increasing trend to include clear descriptions of appropriate uses of copyrighted materials with the copyrighted material itself. Some copyright holders have begun to indicate appropriate uses of a given work through Creative Commons license agreements that may, for example, allow for noncommercial uses. <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/>.Other FAQs
- I'm confused. Who do I go to for help?Please email the Copyright Group (copyright_group@lists.carleton.edu) or contact the Dean of the College Office at...
- Where can I go to learn about Carleton College's copyright policy?Our copyright website (which you're already browsing) is a good place to start. If you still...
- Do I need copyright permission for everything I put on eReserve?No, we do not need to get permission for everything placed on eReserve; however, faculty...
- I want to put an article/book chapter from a source published in another country on eReserve. Can I do that?Copyright laws vary from country to country. Reproduction and copyright information is often found in...
- If I can put an article in Moodle for my class, why would I want to use eReserves?Carleton library has an eReserves service for scanning or linking to readings, as well as...
- Some information about copyright talks about fair use and four factors, and some talks about classroom guidelines. What's the difference?Fair use is clarified in copyright law in the follow manner: "Fair use of a...
- How long does it take to get copyright permission?The amount of time it takes to secure copyright permissions can vary quite a bit....
- How much does copyright permission cost, and who will pay?The cost of obtaining copyright permission varies from one copyright holder to another, and in...
- What if I apply for permission, but don't receive it before I need the article for my class?If permissions are necessary and they haven’t yet cleared, you should not use the work....
- Can I still make a coursepack and sell it through the Bookstore?The Bookstore will obtain all necessary copyright permissions through licensing agencies or directly from the...
- My professor has given us an assignment to create a website as part of our class project. Do I need copyright permission for images I put on my website?Is your website published online for anyone in the world to access? If so, you...
- I'm giving a poster presentation about my summer fellowship project. I have some photos and graphs from articles I found in the library and on the web. Do I need copyright permission to use them on my poster?Is your poster presentation being given in an classroom or academic setting only? See the...
- I'm going to show "An Inconvenient Truth" to my class, but other people on campus might be interested in seeing it, too. Can I open it up to the campus?Film showings that are associated with face-to-face teaching activities and are restricted to the members...
- I have been asked to distribute copyrighted materials to a class as part of my job. How do I know if it is OK to do so?You have a few options. If the materials are being prepared for use in a...
- Copyrighted materials can take a variety of forms (e.g. images, text, audio, and video) and be stored digitally or through more traditional means. Does the type of resource make a difference in terms of how copyright works?Yes, the type of material makes a tremendous difference. See our quick reference by content...
- Does copyright apply to software? If so, how?Copying or distributing software requires special caution, because the terms of the software license apply...
- There's an article about Carleton on someone else's web site. Can I copy it onto Carleton's site if I give credit to the source?No, for publishing on the web, just giving credit is not enough. You should contact...
- I want to post audio or video of a student musical performance. Are there any copyright issues with doing this?A brief clip that shows the student performing would probably be permissible if it is...
- We're making a video and we want to use some popular songs as part of the soundtrack. Do we need permission?Yes, you need permission....
- If images are posted on a public web site and there's no copyright statement, is it OK to use them?No, whether there's a copyright statement or not, they remain the property of the copyright...
- I took photographs of someone else's artwork. Is it OK for me to use them any way I wish, since they're my photos?Maybe yes, maybe no - - it depends on the age of the artwork. Works...
- My students want to make a documentary using clips from other movies. Is this okay?It is important to keep in mind that while fair use provisions allow students to...
- Does it make a difference if I upload a PDF to Moodle or my course web site rather than link to that document though an online source?Where possible, it is preferable to link to an article rather than uploading a PDF...