Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines
Include a copyright notice on all copies. Example: Notice: This material may
be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).
Each faculty member is responsible for obtaining necessary copyright
permission.
Single copies may be made to support an instructor's research and teaching
efforts, following these guidelines:
- A chapter from a book
- An article from a periodical or a newspaper
- A short story, short essay, or short poem, whether or not from a
collective work (see below, brevity)
- A chart, diagram, graph, drawing, cartoon, or picture from a book,
periodical, or newspaper
Multiple copies (one copy per student in the course) may be made for
classroom use where the following conditions exist:
Brevity
- A complete poem of less than 250 words and printed on not more than two pages.
- Only 250 words of longer poems may be copied.
- A complete article, story, or essay of less than 2,500 words.
- Longer works: Only 1,000 words or 10% of the entire work, whichever is less.
Spontaneity
- If there is not a reasonable length of time to request and receive
permission.
Cumulative Effect
- Material to be used for only one course, for one semester.
Reserve copying can be done by following the single copy guidelines, with the
exception that multiple copies may be placed on reserve if this is reasonable in
light of the number of students enrolled in the course (one copy to 30
students).
You must seek permission if:
- Copy repeated over successive courses or years
- Copy for profit
- Copying for non-educational purposes
- Consumable work (standardized texts, workbooks, exercises)
- Anthologies created as basic text for a course
An important determinant in whether copying constitutes fair use is the impact
certain copying has on the marketplace.
Check with library for other details at 509.358.7930 or
spok.lib@wsu.edu.