Copyright & Fair Use

Copyright can seem confusing and intimidating, and it’s usually the last thing we think about as we wrap up a research project or put together a syllabus. Too often, unfamiliarity with copyright law makes us hesitate to use images, tables, data, video, and other sources in our publications and teaching, even when those uses are legal. When it comes to our own research, we might sign away our rights to circulate publications in ways that ensure the highest impact. In the Libraries, our goal is to help everyone on campus understand what they can do under copyright law—and to suggest good alternatives when there’s a copyright roadblock. We also want to help students understand how copyright relates to other research integrity issues like plagiarism, and what they need to know before and after graduation.