Research, Citation, & Class Guides: Faculty & Staff Resources: Copyright & Fair Use

Copyright & Fair Use

What you CAN do - Copyright
This chart highlights some of the situations when you can use works in your teaching without permission or fee. Published by the Association for Research Libraries.
Know your Copyrights
Full brochure from the Association of Research Libraries.

The UW-Whitewater libraries are unable to provide specific legal advice to people about questions of copyright and fair use. If you are in search of legal advice, consult a lawyer.

The Internet is full of websites that can help you find pertinent information, such as these:

Checklist for Fair Use
The University Libraries at the University of Louisville have created this handy checklist for determining whether something would be considered fair use. It is based on a work by the Copyright Management Center.
Copyright Law of the United States
Title 17 of the United States Code with appendices and related provisions.
Fair Use
The Stanford University Libraries have collected information relevant to fair use on one handy website. Sections include:
-What Is Fair Use?
-Measuring Fair Use: The Four Factors
-Summaries of Fair Use Cases
-Disagreements Over Fair Use: When Are You Likely to Get Sued?
Know Your Copyrights: Tips for Faculty and Teaching Assistants in Higher Education
Topics covered in the brochure include: fair use, the advantage of linking to instead of copying works, and special provisions for displaying or performing works in classes. Link to one-page "Know Your Copy Rights" chart that highlights 24 situations when various categories of works can be used. By the Association of Research Libraries.
U.S. Copyright Office
The U. S. Copyright Office was created by Congress in 1897. It is a separate federal department within the Library of Congress, under the general oversight of the Librarian, pursuant to specific statutory authorities set forth in the United States Copyright Act. Official information is accessible here.
U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Index
Look for legal cases related to fair use.

Media Rights

Are you looking for information regarding public performance and streaming rights for video and audio recordings? Then check out this Media - Public Performance and Streaming Licenses guide.