Copyright Information for Students
Digital Commons @ IWU - Institutional Repository
- Institutional Repository Copyright Information
- About Institutional Repositories
- Copyright License Forms:
Commonly asked questions:
Copyright is a form of protection given to the authors or creators of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works. Copyright is a bundle of rights, which allow the author or creator exclusive rights, including the right to:
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Distribute your work
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Make copies of your work
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Perform and publicly display your work
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Make derivative works
How do I know if something is copyrighted?
Any "original work of authorship" that is fixed in a "tangible form of expression" is protected by copyright. The following categories are copyrightable works:
- literary works, including computer software
- musical works and accompanying words
- dramatic works and accompanying music
- pantomimes and choreographic works
- pictorial, graphic and sculptural works
- motion pictures and other audiovisual works
- sounds recordings
- architectural works
Here are some things that are NOT protected by copyright law:
- Ideas, procedures, concepts
- Titles, names, short phrases
- Works that are not fixed in a tangible form of expression, such as an improvised speech or performance that is not written down or recorded
- Works consisting entirely of information that is commonly available (standard calendars, measures and rulers, tables compiled from public documents, etc...)
- Works by the United States government
As soon as you place any original work of your own authorship in a fixed medium, for example, write it down or record it, you are the copyright owner. You do not have to register copyright with the government to be a copyright owner, however in some cases you may wish to do so. As a copyright holder, you are protected by the exclusive rights listed above. There are some exceptions and limitations to these rights - one major limitation is the doctrine of Fair Use.
Can I use copyrighted materials in my class projects?
The best course of action is to seek permission for all copied material that you intend to use in class projects or for any other use. To obtain permission, you must determine who the owner is, contact them and negotiate permission to use their work.
Fair use is the part of copyright law that permits new makers, in some situations, to quote copyrighted material without asking permission or paying the owners. The courts tell us that fair use should be “transformative”—adding value to what they take and using it for a purpose different from the original work.
Example question: Can I take various audio and sound clips and use them to create my own work?
Many uses of copyrighted material in today’s online videos are eligible for fair use consideration. A wide variety of practices—satire, parody, negative and positive commentary, discussion-triggers, illustration, diaries, archiving and of course, pastiche or collage (remixes and mashups)—could be legal in some circumstances.
Credit - "Recut, Reframe, Recycle" - article from the Center for Social Media, American University School of Communication
When do I need permission to copy?
Unless you are absolutely sure, relying on the doctrine of Fair Use to avoid seeking permission can be risky. There are no set rules about what kind of use is fair and what is infringing. For example, using less than a certain number of words from an author's work does not automatically constitute fair use. Courts apply the four factors of fair use on a case-by-case basis, and one interpretation of the factors can easily differ from another. Simply seek permission for all copied material you intend to use.
How long does copyright protection last?
How Long Copyright Protection Endures - information from the U.S. Copyright Office
Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States - informational chart from Cornell University
Why should I care about copyright?
When you create something, aren't you proud of your work when you spend a lot of time and energy creating it? You would probably be pretty upset if someone just copied any of them without your permission. That's where copyright comes in. Copyright law gives you a set of rights that prevents other people from copying your work and doing other things with your work that you may not like.
As the creator of your work, you should have the right to control what people can and cannot do with your work. In the United States - one of the world's biggest sources of creative works like movies, television shows, books, computer games, etc. -- this right to control your work has actually turned into big business, but that's what allows all the creative people around us to get paid for coming up with all the wonderful songs, shows, books, painting, movies and other great works that we enjoy. These talented musicians, authors, illustrators and screenwriters deserve our respect and appreciation - and they deserve to make a living from the hard work they put into their creative works -- otherwise most of them wouldn't be able to produce as many (or any) of the songs, books, plays, movies and TV shows that you like. That's what copyright is all about. It reflects our appreciation for all the hard work that goes into creating "original works of authorship" and respect for the right of the creator of that work to control what people can and cannot do with it.
What Copyright Means to You - copyright information from Washburn University dedicated to student copyright issues
Copyright Kids - copyright basics and FAQ's
Copyright Office Basics - from the United States Copyright Office
Taking the Mystery Out of Copyright - from the Library of Congress
Credit to Copyright Kids for various text on this page.
