Copyright Tools
- The Copyright GenieIs it covered by copyright?
- Exceptions for InstructorsCan you use copyrighted material for educational purposes without getting permission?
- Fair Use ChecklistSee if fair use applies by using this checksheet. (University of Chicago)
- Fair Use EvaluatorUse this tool to determine if fair use applies.
- Public Domain SliderQuickly find out if that work is in the public domain.
- TEACH Act checklistCan you use a performance or display in an online classroom?
Finding Images, Videos & Music
Use our Images, Videos & Music Guide to locate items that are licensed for use through creative commons, or are in the public domain:
Copyright and the Library
Copyright 101
Copyright Resources
- Copyright: Legal Information InstituteFind U.S. Copyright Act here, copyright conventions and treaties, and court decisions involving intellectual property.
- Copyright and Fair UseRich with legal information about copyright, including treaties, from the Stanford University Libraries.
- Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines (U. of Maryland Global Campus)Good, easy to read, overview. "What is Fair Use?" (about halfway down the page) has a very good explanation of the four factors of fair use. From the University of Maryland Global Campus.
- Copyright Clearance CenterThe largest licenser of copyright reproduction rights in the world.
- Copyright Exceptions - Fair UseLooks at the four factors of Fair Use with an eye towards what characteristics and uses fair fair use and which favor the need to get permission. Purdue University, University Copyright Office.
- Copyright Exceptions - Virtual InstructionLegally using copyrighted materials in an online setting under the TEACH Act. From Purdue University, University Copyright Office.
- Creative CommonsLearn about Creative Commons licensing, an alternative to copyright, and find creative common licensed works that you can share and reuse.
- Electronic Frontier FoundationThe Electronic Frontier Foundation, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties, including privacy and freedom of expression, in the arena of computers and the Internet. Look under issues > Creativity and Innovation for several copyright related topics.
- Fair Use and Copyright for Online Education: Examples: VideoSome examples thinking through whether using videos in online classrooms would or would not be fair use. From the University of Rhode Island University Libraries.
- Guide to the TEACH ActThe TEACH Act allows educators to use copyrighted materials such as videos and other performances in online classrooms under certain circumstances. This page gives an overview of how to use materials under the TEACH Act along with FAQs.
- United States Copyright OfficeLots of copyright information including how to register works.
Fair Use Examples
The University of Rhode Island has created a nice guide on Fair Use and Copyright for Online Education. In particular they included many examples of whether certain usages might or might not be Fair Use. The guide and examples are linked below. To see the examples open the relevant page then either use the menu on the left or scroll down .