Copyright Guide: Copyright Law

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. Librarians are unable to dispense legal advice.

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, sell, display, and reproduce literary, artistic or musical work, and applies both to traditional works (books, records, etc.) and to digital media (electronic journals, web sites, etc.).

Specifically, it protects the following eight categories:

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

Remember, you may use a copyrighted work in your class if you (depending on the individual circumstance):

• link to a lawfully posted work on the Web or in a library database;
• make a fair use determination;
• request permission from the copyright holder; or,
• determine that the work is in the public domain or if it licensed under the Creative Commons.

U.S. Copyright Office -- FAQs

Visit the U.S. Copyright Office's Learning Engine Video Series for in-depth information.

Library of Congress: Copyright Blog Posts