The Ames Library

Copyright in the Classroom

Fair Use Information

Fair Use Checklist

Commonly asked questions:

Using Works in Print: Permissible Photocopying of Copyrighted Works

The U.S. Copyright Act allows for the photocopying of copyrighted works without first obtaining permission from the copyright owner when the photocopying amounts to a "fair use" of the material. Consider the four factors of fair use to determine if the use of the material falls within the parameters of the doctrine.

Classroom Handouts:  Consult the Fair Use Checklist, in particular attending to Factor 4.  If Fair Use does not apply, seek copyright holder permission or purchase usage rights.  Support for obtaining permission and/or purchasing is available from the Document Delivery & Copyright Coordinator at The Ames Library. 

5 Things You Should Read About Copyright and Sharing Your Instructional Materials - Research & Scholarship Committee, Association of College and Research Libraries, 2007-2008

Research and Teaching Uses

In general, faculty and students may make a single copy of any of the following-- book chapter, article, short story, short essay, short poem, graph, drawing, chart, cartoon, picture -- for scholarly research or use in teaching or preparing to teach a class. You should consider the four factors of fair use listed in to make sure that any additional photocopying is justified. The following demonstrate situations where increased levels of photocopying would continue to remain within the ambit of fair use:

  • the inability to obtain another copy of the work because it is not available from another library or because the source cannot be obtained within your time constraints

  • the intention to photocopy the material only once and not to distribute the material to others;

  • the ability to keep the amount of material photocopied within a reasonable proportion to the entire work (the larger the work, the greater amount of material which may be photocopied).

Distribution in the Classroom

Multiple photocopies for classroom use may be made by or for the teacher for classroom use or discussion provided the copying is brief and spontaneous. These copies can be distributed to students in a class without the publisher's prior permission, under the following conditions:

  • the distribution of the same photocopied material does not occur every semester;

  • only one copy is distributed for each student which copy must become the student's property;

  • the material includes a copyright notice on the first page of the portion of material photocopied;

  • the students are not assessed any fee beyond the actual cost of the photocopying.

Using Videos in the Classroom

The rules governing the showing of copyrighted videotapes are the same as those governing any other copyrighted performance. A properly purchased or rented videotape may be used in a classroom setting in conjunction with face-to-face instruction. Care should be taken to comply with any special terms in the rental or purchase agreements.

Classroom and Curriculum-related use: Fair Use guidelines exempt the individual from having to seek permission or purchase performance rights.

Co- or Extra-curricular Events: Performance Rights are expected to be obtained for Entertainment events.   Support for obtaining performance rights is available from the Office of the Assistant Dean of Students. Fees are covered by the individual, department, or organization seeking performance rights. 

Netflix Faculty Pilot Program - Spring 2008

The Ames Library is offering a pilot program to provide  faculty access to Netflix, a movie rental service. Using Netflix will allow you access to their extensive collection of over 90,000 titles.

The use of Netflix materials is considered a fair use as long as this service is used for educational, curriculum-related purposes.

Copying Programs Off-the-Air for Classroom Use

Guidelines for copying television programs off-the-air have been developed by an ad hoc committee composed of representatives of the broadcast industry and educators. ("Off-the-air" means television programs transmitted for reception by the general public without charge, including such programs being simultaneously transmitted by a cable system. It does not include programs shown on pay cable or pay TV services; under the guidelines you are not free to videotape these for later showing.)

Based on the television guidelines and recent court decisions, it is acceptable to use videotapes of broadcast programs in the classroom provided the following steps are observed:

  • Recordings may be used by individual teachers in the course of "time-shifting" the program in order to be seen in class. They may not be shown from semester to semester without permission, and they should be erased at the end of the semester in which they are used.

  • Recordings should be shown in classrooms and other similar places devoted to instruction.

  • A limited number of copies may be reproduced from each broadcast recording to meet the legitimate needs of teachers under these guidelines. Each such additional copy shall be subject to all provisions governing the original recording.

  • Videos of broadcast recordings need not be used in their entirety, but they may not be altered from their original content. They may not be physically or electronically combined or merged to constitute teaching anthologies or compilations.

  • All copies of off-air recordings must include the copyright notice on the broadcast as recorded.

Using Material Found on the Internet

You should assume that most of the materials on the Internet are copyrighted, including electronic mail messages. Once an expression is committed to tangible medium, including a computer file, it is protected. No notice is required. So unless a work is in the public domain or the copyright owner allows further reproduction, unauthorized copying in excess of fair use or other lawful exceptions is prohibited.

When working on the Internet keep in mind:

  • Include a copyright notice on materials you author and post; the University encourages you to grant permission to copy for non-profit education or research purposes, such as a Creative Commons License, provided credit is given to you as the original author, unless your work is subject to contractual restrictions or conditions for which the charging of a royalty would be appropriate;

  • Look for a copyright notice on other materials to help determine what use is permissible;.

  • Unless permission to use the materials is explicitly stated or  falls within fair use, do not copy, download, scan, digitize, or forward materials without the explicit consent of the copyright owner. Do not re-post such material on your own web site without permission. Instead, use a link to the source material.

Course Packets

Copyright permission or the purchase of usage rights is expected, for any items not within the professor's intellectual property.  Support for obtaining permission and/or purchasing  is available from the Document Delivery & Copyright Coordinator at The Ames Library. Procedures and forms are available online.  Fees are covered by the students enrolled in the course.

Reserves Use

 Copyright permission or the purchase of usage rights is expected, for any items not within the professor's intellectual property. 

Items owned by The Ames Library are considered acceptable for Reserves Use without obtaining additional permissions or usage rights.  Personal copies may be used no more than one time; subsequent use requires library ownership or permission or purchase of usage rights.  Support for obtaining permission and/or purchasing usage rights is provided through the Reserves Service.  Fees are covered by the library.

Ames Library Reserves and E-Reserves Policies [forthcoming]

Primer: Copyright Guidelines for E-Reserves - from the Copyright Clearance Center

Have more questions?  Contact the University Copyright Officer

  Back to IWU Copyright Policies and Practices