Understanding Copyright

Please be advised that the Library staff cannot advise on questions of possible copyright infringement; if you require legal advice, you should consult with a legal practitioner licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.

The Library offers links to copyright information furnished by the United States Copyright Office and other organizations for the convenience of the Knox College community. The Library makes these resources accessible for informational purposes only and bears no responsibility for the quality of information provided through other sites.

General Copyright Information

• Copyright Term and the Public Doman in the United States
  by Peter B. Hirtle of the Cornell Coypright Information Center is a chart detailing copyright spans for various types of materials.
• Copyright Basics (pdf format)
is a circular prepared by the U.S. Copyright Office. See especially "What Copyright Is."
• University of Texas System Crash Course in Copyright Offers readable explainations on copyright and fair use for academia.
• The American Library Association's Copyright Advisory Network has links to copyright basics web pages.

Laws and Legislation

• Copyright Act of 1976, As Amended (1994), U.S. Copyright Law Title 17, from the Cornell University School of Law. See also the U.S. Copyright Office documents on Title 17.
• The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998: U.S. Copyright Office Summary
• The American Library Association's Copyright Advisory Network has links to interpretations of the TEACH Act.

Information About Fair Use

• U.S. 1976 Copyright Act, Title 17, Chap. 1, Section 107 (Fair Use) From the Cornell University School of Law
• Circular 21: Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians (pdf format) A booklet prepared by the U.S. Copyright Office
• Getting Permission for use of copyrighted works, prepared by the University of Texas, has web links to collective rights organizations and a sample copyright permission letter.
• Copyright & Fair Use Stanford University Libraries' Copyright and Fair Use site
• Fair Use explanation site from the University of Minnesota Libraries includes a nifty fair use analysis tool.
• Checklist for Fair Use from the Copyright Management Center at Indiana University - Purdue University is a printable checklist.