Copyright & Fair Use

 

For information about placing materials on course reserves, see Resources for Faculty.

 

Course Reserves and Copyright

 EWU Libraries fulfill reserve requests if the University or the instructor possesses a lawfully obtained copy of the material, and in doing so will not violate the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). 

 

WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS

 

United States law (Title 17, United States Code) governs the use of copyrighted materials.  Under certain conditions, university libraries are permitted to furnish a reproduction to university students and faculty.  These conditions require that the reproduction not be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.  Other uses, including commercial use and any further electronic distribution of the material, may constitute copyright infringement.

 

Permission must be obtained prior to placing copyrighted materials on course reserve that do not meet fair use. Verification that permission has been obtained for the purpose of placing the material on course reserve at EWU Libraries must accompany the reserve request form.  Note:  It is the instructor's responsibility to obtain permission to place copyrighted materials that do not meet fair use on course reserve.

 

Materials that generally do not require copyright permission:

 

•             Materials that fall under fair use, for a defined purpose and use.

 

•             Instructor-produced exams, syllabi and lecture notes. 

 

•             Works in the public domain.

 

•             United States Government works.

 

•             Freeware (not shareware, but software that is actually and expressly available free of restriction).

 

Materials that generally do require copyright permission:

 

•             A duplication of a copyrighted work that does not meet fair use.

 

•             A duplication of an entire work or a substantial part of a work.

 

•             A duplication of consumable works, such a standardized tests, exercises, and workbooks.

 

•             Student-produced works, such a research papers and music recitals.