LibGuides: Copyright, Fair Use, and the TEACH Act: Copyright

U.S. Copyright Act

U.S Copyright Law (Title 17 of the United States Code)

Copyright Law, extending from the Copyright Act of 1976, is intended to protect the intellectual works of authors from unauthorized recreation, distribution, and viewing: whether published or unpublished. Copyright Law must balance the rights of ownership and monetary gain of authors for their works with the right of the public's advancement of knowledge, free speech, and expression.

Fair Use defends that balance by attempting to prevent copyright from imposing burdens that might inhibit, rather than create, innovation, knowledge, and learning. Fair Use is a DEFENSE, rather than a right.

The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act is a provision of US Copyright law that regulates the use of copyrighted materials in distance education courses. Although it allows for some latitude, it also has some limitations, which are covered further in the TEACH Act page of this guide.

What is Copyright?

Online Resources

Government Resources

U.S. Copyright Office
Learn about copyright law and policy, view copyright records, register your own works, and learn about record transfers of copyright ownership.
U.S. Copyright Office - Reference
U.S. Copyright Office's new online reference page in regards to what copyright is, it's origins, and how it operates.

Nonprofit Resources

ALA Copyright Tools
American Library Association's copyright tools to help you determine whether an image is in the public domain, whether fair use is applicable, and whether an exemption applies when using copyrighted materials.
Exceptions for Instructors eTool
Tool specifically designed for instructors to provide educational use exemptions to copyrighted works.
Creative Commons - About
Learn about Creative Commons licenses, tools, and how copyright operates within CC licensing. See how you can get a CC license for your own work.

Academic Resources

Copyright for Educators & Librarians - Free Course
This open online course from Duke University, Emory University, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill offers flexible copyright education at your own pace, and with your schedule.
Copyright Crash Course - University of Texas Libraries
Great resource for faculty or students in understanding copyright laws and guidelines.
Finding Public Domain & Creative Commons Media by Harvard Law School Library
This LibGuide from Harvard University Library explains the difference between public domain vs a Creative Commons license, and how to find and credit works under either provision.

International Resources

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
WIPO Lex provides free of charge access to legal information on intellectual property from around the world.
Europeana's Public Domain Charter
Europeana's policy statement on what the public domain is, and how Europeana utilizes it. On their website, you can find educational materials for creating and developing lesson plans, digital collections in a multitude of disciplines, as well as news and stories all for public use.

Copyright, Fair Use, and the TEACH Act

Copyright @ Linfield

Your Librarian

U.S. Copyright Act

What is Copyright?

Online Resources