Library Copyright Compliance Policies For Class Reserves

Copyright Law Highlights
Examples of "Unfair" Use
Fair Use Guidelines
Multimedia Guidelines
Obtaining Permissions
Photocopying Policies

Other Library
  Policies

Contact Circulation

Copyright Law and Educational use

Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code) covers printed and electronic materials, recordings, computer programs, graphic designs, performances as well as handwritten class notes and homework solutions - all manner of tangible expression of creative enterprise.

Except for a few specific classroom teaching situations, copyright law generally obligates a teacher to seek the permission of copyright holders before making or using copyrighted works published within the last 95 years. Although the "fair use" principles of the 1976 Copyright Act also apply to electronic resources, additional guidelines specifically covering multimedia were adopted by Congress in 1998. Instructors should also be aware that use of many electronic resources (e.g. full-text journals or multimedia works), is commonly governed by licensing agreements that supplant "fair use" permitted by copyright guidelines.

Additional information about "fair use" and other aspects of copyright law is available from the Pennsylvania State University's Media & Technology Support Services website.

Library Policies

In order to protect Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from liability for copyright infringement the Research Libraries have developed the following policies relating to the handling of copyrighted and/or licensed materials for class reserve use:

• The Libraries will not use materials for class reserve purposes or make available through the Class Reserve database resources whose copyright ownership and licensing agreements, when applicable, cannot be accurately identified or fully determined.

• The Libraries reserve the right in their judgement to refuse to use materials for class reserve purposes or to make available resources through the Class Reserve database that might violate either copyright law or licensing agreements.

• The Libraries will promptly remove from use and/or delete from the Class Reserve database any material or electronic resource they discover that might infringe copyright or violate licensing agreements.

• The Libraries reserve the right in their judgment to refuse either to accept a photocopying request that would involve a violation of copyright law or to make available in Class Reserves such materials that might have been duplicated in violation of copyright law.

• The Libraries will make single copies of copyrighted materials for class reserve use in accordance with "fair use" guidelines and Section 107 of US Copyright Law.

• Final responsibility for obtaining and demonstrating that copyright holder's permission for use either has been received, is actively being sought, and/or that usage complies with licensing agreements resides with the faculty member requesting class reserve service.