Copyright

Copyright in the classroom generally falls under fair use, but instructors should always be aware of copyright issues regarding reserves and the provision of copies of documents to students.  The Teach Act also is of importance and should be consulted if you are interested in using materials to teach students at a distance. In general, the additional sections of this guide will provide more detailed specifics about the operations of copyright in general.

To aid faculty in determining whether a particular use constitutes fair use, read about it under the Fair Use tab.

A single copy may be made of any of the following by or for a teacher at his or her individual request for his or her scholarly research or use in teaching or preparation to teach a class:

• A chapter from a book;
• An article from a periodical or newspaper;
• A short story, short essay, or short poem, whether or not from a collective work;
• A chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, or picture from a book, periodical, or newspaper.

Multiple copies (never to exceed more than one copy per pupil in the course) may be made by or for the teacher giving the course for classroom use or discussion, provided that:

• The copying meets the tests of brevity and spontaneity as defined below; and
• Meets the cumulative effect test as defined below; and
• Each copy includes a notice of copyright.

Definitions

• Brevity:
  • Poetry: (a) A complete poem if less than 250 words and if printed on not more than two pages or (b) from a longer poem, an excerpt of not more than 250 words.
  • Prose: (a) Either a complete article, story, or essay of less than 2,500 words, or (b) an excerpt from any prose work of not more than 1,000 words or 10% of the work, whichever is less, but in any event a minimum of 500 words.
    (Each of the numerical limits stated in “i” and “ii” above may be expanded to permit the completion of an unfinished line of a poem or of an unfinished prose paragraph.)
  • Illustration: One chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, or picture per book or per periodical issue.
  • “Special” works: Certain works in poetry, prose, or in “poetic prose” which often combine language with illustrations and which are intended sometimes for children and at other times for a more general audience fall short of 2,500 words in their entirety. Paragraph “ii” above notwithstanding such “special works” may not be reproduced in their entirety; however, an excerpt comprising not more than two of the published pages of such special work and containing not more than 10% of the words found in the text thereof may be reproduced.
• Spontaneity:
  • The copying is at the instance and inspiration of the individual teacher; and
  • The inspiration and decision to use the work and the moment of its use for maximum teaching effectiveness are so close in time that it would be unreasonable to expect a timely reply to a request for permission.
• Cumulative Effect:
  • The copying of the material is for only one course in the school in which the copies are made.
  • Not more than one short poem, article, story, essay, or two excerpts may be copied from the same author, nor more than three from the same collective work or periodical volume during one class term.
  • There shall not be more than nine instances of such multiple copying for one course during one class term.
    (The limitations stated in “ii” and “iii” above shall not apply to current news periodicals and newspapers and current news sections of other periodicals.)