LibGuides: Open Educational Resources: Copyright

What is Copyright?

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers from the United States Copyright Office.

Copyright and the United States

Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states:

"The Congress shall have power...To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries..."

Why Worry About Copyright?

LCC's Policy
Read the College's Intellectual Property Policy for information about using copyrighted material in the classroom.

Copyright on Campus

Copyright for Students

Best Practices in Fair Use for OER

Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources
This Code is a tool for educators, librarians, and authors to evaluate common
professional scenarios in which fair use can enable them to incorporate inserts,
including those protected by copyright, to create OER. It can provide groups
working on OER projects with a shared framework for evaluating and understanding
when and how to incorporate existing content to meet pedagogical needs.

What is Fair Use?

Criteria
Not sure exactly what fair use means? The U.S. Copyright Office outlines the situations and uses that qualify as fair use.
Fair Use Evaluation
Wondering if your use of copyrighted material qualifies as fair use? Enter your information into this tool and it will help you decide. If you don't understand fair use, complete the informational module.
Fair Use Checklist
Use this printable sheet to evaluate your use of materials to determine if it is fair use. The list comes from Columbia University.