Copyright Term and Public Domain Chart -- Developed by Cornell University
Thinking Through Fair Use -- The University of Minnesota Libraries' tool for determining "fair use."
Exceptions for Instructors -- To find out if your intended use meets the requirements set out in the law, use this free, online tool.
Fair Use Evaluator -- Helpful to determine the "fairness" of a use under the U.S. Copyright Code.
Copyright Framework - Framework from Virginia Tech that was used in the Learning Commons Copyright Refresher workshop
What is copyright?
The U.S. Copyright Office defines copyright as a "form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works."
What does copyright law protect?
Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic work
s, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed. (See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section 'What Works Are Protected'.")
(United States Copyright Office. Copyright in General. Retrieved from http://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#what.)
What is not covered under copyright law?
Patents, trademarks, trade secrets
You can find the U.S. Copyright Law in its entirety at: http://copyright.gov/title17/
[U.S. Code Title 17, Chapters 108 and 10-12]
Disclaimer: This web page provides general information concerning copyright and fair use, but does not constitute legal advice.
Creative Commons (CC) licensing allows you to use the work of others without asking for copyright permission; however, there are different CC licenses with different types of permissions. You may choose to license your own work under a CC license as well. To learn more about CC licenses, click the Creative Commons link below.
Copyright is important for you to understand as a student and as a professional. Copyright infringement is a serious crime, and you should learn how to avoid committing copyright infringement. You should also understand the basics of copyright to protect your own work. Keep in mind that copyright infringement is NOT the same as plagiarism.