Copyright Issues
Overview
- Items considered "fair use" may be reproduced for limited purposes, one of which is teaching and scholarship.
- However, copyright laws are tricky and this page is only a rough guide.
- Faculty should use Course Reserves to make books, coursepacks, CDs, and other physical items available to students. Generally, it is illegal to scan/photocopy materials for distribution unless appropriate licensing fees have been paid -- this is what the library does, and what students do when buying coursepacks.
- If the library does not have a copy of a desired item, faculties are responsible for evaluating each item to determine if it is "Fair Use."
Resources
The following resources provide good guidance on what is permissible when it comes to posting items on CTools.
What is "fair use?"
U-M library definition of fair use
Course Reserves
What is "fair use?"
U-M library definition of fair use
Course Reserves
Information on using how Taubman Library's eReserves service to post articles on CTools
Copyright Decision Map
Excellent visual guide for deciding if an item is fair use (University of Minnesota)
Fair Use Analysis Tool
Useful tool for determining if an item is fair use (University of Minnesota)
Scenarios
Description of several, common teaching scenarios and the appropriate use of materials in each case (University of Minnesota)
Posting materials online
Overview of the legalities of posting materials online (Indiana University)
TEACH Act
Information about the TEACH Act which allows educators to display copyrighted works in distance education environments (University of Minnesota)
General U-M IT Policies
Information about U-M specific IT policies
Copyright Decision Map
Excellent visual guide for deciding if an item is fair use (University of Minnesota)
Fair Use Analysis Tool
Useful tool for determining if an item is fair use (University of Minnesota)
Scenarios
Description of several, common teaching scenarios and the appropriate use of materials in each case (University of Minnesota)
Posting materials online
Overview of the legalities of posting materials online (Indiana University)
TEACH Act
Information about the TEACH Act which allows educators to display copyrighted works in distance education environments (University of Minnesota)
General U-M IT Policies
Information about U-M specific IT policies
