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Copyright and Fair Use: Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for The D'Azzo Research Library

Copyright and Electronic Resources at AFIT

Most of the electronic resources such as ejournals, databases and ebooks available at AFIT are owned (copyrighted) by outside publishers and governed by license agreements. These agreements determine how an electronic resource can or cannot be used. This page is meant to provide you with basic information on appropriate use of electronic materials and link you to resources for more specific information if you need it.

Use of the above mentioned electronic resources is limited to:

  • Current AFIT employees whether permanent, temporary or visiting, including affiliates, consultants and students
  • Contractors and subcontractors officially affiliated with AFIT at the Institute site
  • Members of the public using an AFIT computer within the Research Library

It is the responsibility of individual Authorized Users to ensure that our resources are used solely for scholarly, research, educational and personal non-commercial purposes in accordance with copyright law.

Copyright Law

Copyright law, as defined in Title 17 of the United States Code, protects "original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression" for a limited period. Copyright protection includes, for instance, the legal right to publish and sell literary, artistic, or musical work, and copyright protects authors, publishers and producers, and the public. Copyright applies both to traditional media (books, records, etc.) and to digital media (electronic journals, web sites, etc.). Copyright protects the following eight categories of works:

   1. literary works
   2. musical works
   3. dramatic works
   4. pantomimes and choreographic works
   5. pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
   6. motion pictures and other audiovisual works
   7. sound recordings
   8. architectural works

Ownership of a copyrighted work includes the right to control the use of that work. Use of such work by others during the term of the copyright requires either permission from the author or reliance on the doctrine of fair use. Failure to do one or the other will expose the user to a claim of copyright infringement for which the law provides remedies including payment of money damages to the copyright owner.

Crash Course Intellectual Property

Disclaimer

Information contained in this LibGuide is educational in nature and is not to be construed as legal advice.

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