Copyright and Fair Use

Copyright

The Library Reserves service follows current copyright laws and relies on its educational Fair Use guidelines. Library staff will assist faculty in evaluating how copyright affects reserve materials before including them in our collection. Copyrighted material used for consecutive semesters may require the permission of the copyright holder.

For more information please see our Copyright guide.

Fair Use

Section 107 of the Use Copyright Act states that educational institutions have special exemptions from copyright laws. Fair Use guidelines determine whether the work may be used:

  • Purpose and character of use. Is it for educational or commercial use?
  • Nature of the copyrighted work. Is it factual, published, or imaginative?
  • Amount and substance of the proportion used.
  • Effect of use on the market. Will it compete with sale of original work?