Below are some frequently asked questions relating to copyright issues. Note, the answers below are broad responses to questions that often are complicated and depend on particular circumstances of their use. It's highly recommended that you speak with a librarian to account for any nuances of your use of copyright protected works.
Students
"If I have previously published an article and want to use it in my dissertation/thesis, do I need copyright permission?"
Generally yes, though it depends on how the article was published. Please navigate to the "Copyright Guidance on ETD" guide linked below.
"I'm wanting to publish research and protect my copyright. What's the best way to do that?"
It's recommended that any researcher wanting to publish strongly consider only submitting to Open Access journals, as they often allow authors more leeway in retaining their copyrights. For more information, visit the Open Access Guide linked below.
Faculty
"How can I use a copyrighted material while teaching my class?"
Best general practices are located on the "Using Copyrighted Materials in the Classroom" page, but if you need more specific guidance it's recommended you make an appointment with a librarian using the scheduler below
"What is First Sale doctrine?"
First sale doctrine describes the right to resell an owned physical copy of certain media you possess (books, CDs, DVDS, other physical video formats) as long as you don't retain a copy for yourself.
A distinction not always recognized is that ownership of the physical item, such as a book or a CD, is not the same as owning the copyright to the work embodied in that item. Under the first sale doctrine, ownership of a physical copy of a copyrighted work, like a book, permits lending the item, reselling the item, disposing of the item, and so forth, but it does not permit copying the item in its entirety. That is because the transfer of the physical copy does not include transfer of the copyright to the work.
