Subject Guides     

Copyright Guide     

Text in BROWN indicates that the item is located in Hoover Library.

U.S. Copyright

• U.S. Copyright Office
  • Official and most authoritative site. Also has an excellent introduction to copyright.

Fair Use
The doctrine of "fair use" is codified in Section 107 of Title 17 of the U.S. Code (GPO Access).

• Fair Use (U.S. Copyright Office)
• Circular 21: Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians (U.S. Copyright Office)
  • An excellent 24-page guide. In PDF format.
  • A printed copy is also kept in the library's Reference office.
• Copyright and Fair Use (Stanford University)
  • Links to legal materials and articles on the topic. Searchable. Excellent site.
• Copyright Bay
  • Intended for teachers. Cleverly presented.
• Copyright Crash Course (Georgia Harper, University of Texas)
  • Written in everyday English, including discussion of Fair Use. Excellent site.
• Copyright Law in the Electronic Library (Georgia Harper, University of Texas)
  • Also very clear.
• Patent, Copyright and Trademark (Nolo.com: Self-help Law Center)
  • Nolo Press is a legal publisher. You can search for very clear definitions of various legal issues.
• Copyright Website (Benedict O'Mahoney)
  • Copyright basics and some famous or amusing copyright infringement lawsuits. Uses real cases.

U.S. Copyright Law

• "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. . ." (United States Constitution, Article I, Section 8)
• Copyright Law of the United States of America (U.S. Copyright Office)
  • Complete text of Title 17 plus appendices. In PDF format.
• Title 17 of the U.S. Code (U.S. House of Representative)
  • Complete text of Title 17. Searchable.
• Circular 92: Copyright Law of the United States of America (1996)
  • (Call number: LC 3.4/2:92/996) Located in the Government Documents section of the library.
    
  • Reprints in one volume chapters 1 to 11 of Title 17 of the U.S. Code together with relevant Public Laws.
• Copyright legislation is available from the U.S. Copyright Office.

International Copyright
"There is no such thing as an 'international copyright' that will automatically protect an author's writings throughout the entire world. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country depends, basically, on the national laws of that country. However, most countries do offer protection to foreign works under certain conditions, and these conditions have been greatly simplified by international copyright treaties and conventions." (From U.S. Copyright Office. 24 May 2000 <http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html>.)

• World Intellectual Property Office - WIPO
• WIPO Documents (U.S. Copyright Office)