This guide contains resources for learning more about copyright. The information given here is for general information use only. It is not legal advice.
Reynolds faculty, staff, and students are liable for any infringements they make on the rights of copyright owners.
Avoiding copyright infringement is the responsibility of the individual user. Being ignorant of the law will not protect you against a claim of infringement.
The library has provided the resources on this page and throughout this guide to help individuals learn more about copyright laws and issues. However, the library cannot be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of third-party links. This guide is intended to be educational in nature and is not meant to constitute legal advice.
Understanding U.S. Copyright law can be challenging. The laws can be complex, especially in a digital environment. Exemptions exist for classroom teaching, libraries, and online learning, fair use analyses are still an option, and obtaining permission (and sometimes paying a fee) are also options. Copyright is a set of protections afforded to the author of an original work. Under the 1976 Copyright Act, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce, adapt, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display the work.
This section of the OER Guide is intended to help members of the Reynolds community understand and comply with copyright law. It is not intended to be comprehensive or to serve as legal advice.
The following web resources have been compiled by a librarian and may be useful in your research but don't forget to always evaluate any websites you use!