These rules have been made based on best practices of Section 107 (Fair Use) of the Copyright law recommended by American Library Association (ALA) and Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). It means if you follow these rules, you do not need to ask for permission from the copyright holder of the item you want to use. In case you need to use more than the amount described under these rules, you always have the option to ask for permission from the copyright holder, usually the publisher or the author/creator of the work.
Note: In case the library has the material in electronic format (e-book, e-journal), provide the link. If the material is in print format only, put it on reserve at the library (if it is a book) for students to read or make copies if needed. Print journals cannot be put on reserve since they do not circulate out of the library.
The source of the following: US Copyright Office Circular 21, revised 2014. (page 6-7)
Can I make copies from copyrighted materials for discussion in my class without permission?*
Yes. But you’re limited to:
· Make a single copy of a chapter of a book.
· Make a single copy of an article from a journal or newspaper.
· Make a single copy of a short essay from a collection or anthology.
· Make a single copy of a short story from a collection or anthology.
· Make a single copy of a short poem from a collection or anthology.
· Make a single copy of a chart from a book, journal or newspaper.
· Make a single copy of a graph from a book, journal or newspaper.
· Make a single copy of a diagram from a book, journal or newspaper.
· Make a single copy of a picture from a book, journal or newspaper.
You should not exceed 9 instances of such copying during the semester.
Using the same materials in more than one course is prohibited.
You are also limited to use one work from a single author.
You are also limited to use one article from a journal. Permission is required if more than one article from the same journal is needed.
Using the same materials is limited to one semester only. In order to use the same materials in more than one semester you need to ask for permission from the copyright holder.
Can I make multiple copies of materials for distribution to my students in the class?*
Yes. But you’re limited to:
· Make multiple copies of an excerpt from a printed book not to exceed 10% of the whole or 1,000 words whichever is less.
· Make multiple copies of an article from a journal or newspaper less than 2,500 words.
· Make multiple copies of a short essay from a collection or anthology less than 2,500 words.
· Make multiple copies of a short story from a collection or anthology less than 2,500 words.
· Make multiple copies of a short poem from a collection or anthology less than 250 words.
· Make multiple copies of a chart from a book, journal or newspaper.
· Make multiple copies of a graph from a book, journal or newspaper.
· Make multiple copies of a diagram from a book, journal or newspaper.
· Make multiple copies of a picture from a book, journal or newspaper.
You should not exceed 9 instances of such copying during the semester.
Using the same materials in more than one course is prohibited.
You are also limited to use one work from a single author.
You are also limited to use one article from a journal. Permission is required if more than one article from the same journal is needed.
Using the same materials is limited to one semester only. In order to use the same materials in more than one semester you need to ask for permission from the copyright holder.
Do the rules above apply to textbooks?
Generally, do not make copies of textbooks for your students. You can place a legally purchased copy of the textbook (Review copies, Desk copies given for free to the faculty need permission from the publishers) on library reserve for your students to access for one semester. For keeping the same textbook on reserve for successive semesters, you need to get permission from the copyright holder. Please see UIW Libraries Course Reserves Policy and procedures.
Do the rules above apply to published sample tests?
No. Please remember each question in these tests are copyrighted individually. So there is no minimum amount of use that falls under fair use. You need to get permission from the publisher to use these tests in class.