Copyright Information

This webpage is intended to provide information about Copyright and exceptions to it, like Fair Use for teaching, which will enhance the understanding of faculty, staff and students at Southwestern College and provide guidelines for using and creating copyrighted material. The information presented here is intended for informational purposes only and should NOT be construed as legal advice.

Copyright Links

• U.S. Copyright Office
  The homepage of the United States Copyright Office includes sections, like "Education" with a list of "Frequently Asked Questions", to explain what is copyrighted and is an exception to it, like Fair Use. The Copyright Office allows for on-line copyright registration through CORDS, the Copyright Office Electronic Registration, Recordation & Deposit System.
• American Library Association
  This site, entitled "Copyright" discusses issues for libraries and copyright in the digital age, the 2003 copyright agenda, news, etc. It is maintained by the American Library Association.
• BYU Copyright Tutorial
  This is a 30 minute tutorial that teaches the basics of Fair Use and Copyright.
• Copyright Information and Education Initiative at University of Minnesota Libraries
  This site provides a comprehensive and in depth survey of copyright issues in teaching and research for the higher education community.
• Purdue University
  This site is filled with resources and clear explanations, as well as information for instructors in face-to-face and virtual classroom settings.
• Stanford University Copyright and Fair Use page
  Provides access to a broad range of materials including information about multimedia use and a collection of primary legal resources.
• University of Texas
  This is the University of Texas System's Crash Course in Copyright.
• University System of Georgia
  An online guide to Understanding Copyright and Educational Fair Use. This site includes the copyright policy and guidelines for electronic reserves and fair use for the University of Georgia.

Copyright Law & Legislation

• U.S. Copyright Law
  Copyright as codified in Title 17 of the U.S. Code.
• Copyright Law Resources
  A list of web links on copyright law from the University of Michigan.
• New and Pending Copyright Legislation
  Maintained by the U.S. Copyright Office, provides access to legislation from Congress.

Music and Video Copyright Guidelines

• Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education
  A guide by the Center for Social Media offers legal advice and acceptable practices for the fair use of copyrighted materials in higher education.
• Music Library Association Guidelines
  Includes a searchable and browsable FAQ file, guidelines and copyright news.
• Performance of or Showing Films in the Classroom
  A report from the American Library Association on copyright and showing films in class.

Multimedia Library Guidelines

• Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia
  Document from the Conference on Fair Use.
• SUL: Fair Use and Multimedia
  A series of web links from Stanford University.

Teach Act

• ALA on the TEACH Act
  Information and legislation on the TEACH Act.
• University of Texas
  This is the University of Texas System's Crash Course on Copyright, which includes information on the TEACH Act.