UNT Copyright Resources

General Copyright Resources

1. United States Copyright Office (Library of Congress)
   Official homepage of the agency responsible for administering copyright law in the United States. Includes description of the agency, links to agency publications, and links to related Internet resources.
2. Copyright Basics (UNT Libraries)
   These sources provide an overview of the basic principles of copyright law. They are a good place to begin learning about copyright.
3. Copyright and Fair Use in Documentary Film - Center for Social Media
   This project will help media literacy educators understand their rights under the doctrine of fair use in order to help them more effectively use media as an essential part of their teaching.
4. Know Your Copy Rights - Association of Research Libraries
   Developed with the intent of helping librarians to develop educational programs on copyright. Includes an FAQ for faculty and teaching assistants who plan to use copyrighted works for teaching and learning.

Copyright Law and Legislation

1. Copyright in the News (UNT Libraries)
   Keep up with the latest developments in copyright law.
2. U.S. Copyright Law and Legislation (UNT Libraries)
   Historical, current, and pending laws governing copyright in the United States.
3. International and Foreign Copyright (UNT Libraries)
   Sources for researching treaties and other laws related to the copyright of works produced outside the United States, the copyright of U.S. works in other countries, and copyright agreements between countries.

Tools and Guidelines

1. Model Permission Request Letter
   This letter can be used by UNT employees and students as the basis for making requests for permission from copyright holders to use copyrighted materials.

2. Sample Copyright Notices
   Sample copyright notices for faculty to post in online courses.

3. Campus Guide to Copyright Compliance – Copyright Clearance Center
   Interactive guide that specifically addresses copyright issues common to academic institutions, such as coursepacks, course management systems, inter library loan, library reserves, photocopies, and digital content.
4. Using Course Management Systems: Guidelines and Best Practices for Copyright Compliance – Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
   Short guide for instructors who place copyrighted materials in a course management system.
5. Investigating the Copyright Status of a Work (UNT Libraries)
   Resources for determining whether a given work is currently protected by copyright and for identifying works in the public domain.
6. Obtaining Permission to Use a Copyrighted Work (UNT Libraries)
   How to obtain permission to use copyrighted materials, either directly from the copyright owner or indirectly, by paying royalties to a licensing organization or publishing rights clearinghouse.

7. The TEACH Toolkit: An Online Resource for Understanding Copyright and Distance Education – North Carolina State University
   Comprehensive site devoted to explanation of the TEACH Act with practical guidelines for its implementation.
8. Fair Use
   Information about making limited, legal use of copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright holders, under the doctrine of fair use.

Selected Bibliography

Bielefield, Arlene and Lawrence Cheeseman. Technology and copyright law : a guidebook for the library, research, and teaching professions. 2nd ed. New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers, c2007.

Bobbitt, William R. Universities, faculty, and the battle over intellectual property : who owns what's inside the professor's head? Lewiston, NY : Edwin Mellen Press, 2006.

Crews, Kenneth D. Copyright law for librarians and educators : creative strategies and practical solutions. 2nd ed. Chicago : American Library Association, 2006.

Fishman, Stephen. The copyright handbook : how to protect & use written works. 7th ed. Berkeley, CA : Nolo, c2003.

Gorman, Robert A. Copyright law. 2nd ed. [Washington, D.C.] : Federal Judicial Center, 2006.

Leaffer, Marshall A. Understanding copyright law. 4th ed. Newark, N.J. : LexisNexis/Matthew Bender, 2005.

Lindsey, Marc. Copyright law on campus. Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University Press, c2003.

Schimmel, David, Louis Fischer and Leslie R. Stellman. School law : what every educator should know : a user-friendly guide. Boston : Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, c2008.

Vaidhyanathan, Siva. Copyrights and copywrongs : the rise of intellectual property and how it threatens creativity. New York : New York University Press, c2001.