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Welcome to Copyright Resources
According to Fairfield University's Mission statement, our "primary objectives are to develop the creative, intellectual potential of our students, and to foster in them ethical and religious values and a sense of social responsibility."
It follows, then, that our students, faculty, and staff must respect the intellectual and creative property of all persons and abide by the U.S. copyright laws. These laws have changed over the years and continue to evolve. This site was developed to assist all members of the Fairfield University community in discerning how or if they can use copyrighted materials legally.
Fair Use
Fair-Use provisions, which were enacted into law in 1976, gives educators, scholars and students limited use of copyrighted materials without obtaining permission from copyright holders. The distinction between Fair-Use and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined but certain guidelines have been offered.
Copyright Websites
- U.S. Copyright Legislation
- Know Your Copy Rights
- American Library Association
- TEACH Act Toolkit
- A Fresh Look at the Fair Use Checklist
Resources
Audio Recording Music
It should be assumed that, with few exceptions, it is illegal to copy professionally recorded music.
Images
Includes photographs, slides, illustrations, web images, charts or graphs and designs.
Movies & Video
Movies and videos used in a classroom course but available to students electronically (for example, in WebCT, or over the Internet) must follow the guidelines as set for distance education applications.
Multimedia
Multimedia applications defined operationally, involve the inclusion of text, graphics, sound and/or video clips in a computerized environment. Educators and students may incorporate, with limitations, portions of books, videos, slides, sound recordings, motion media and other media into a multimedia project of their own for their classes.
Printed Materials
To use printed materials in an online course, use the TEACH Act requirements to determine whether or not the materials can be used in digital distance education without having to obtain prior permission from the copyright owner.
Software
In general, all computer software is copyrighted and protected under federal law, and should be treated as you would a published book or commercial video. No programs can be reproduced or distributed without the explicit written permission of the publisher and/or copyright holder.
TEACH Act
The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH) was signed into law on Nov. 2, 2002. It deals specifically with use of copyrighted materials in digital distance education. If numerous requirements are met, TEACH facilitates the use of these materials in digital distance education without having to obtain prior permission from the copyright owner.
TV Programs
A broadcast may be recorded off-air (including cable) and retained for a period not to exceed the first 45 consecutive calendar days after the date of recording after which the recording must be erased.