Copyright

This document is provided by the Business Information Specialists of the James J. Hill Reference Library to answer Frequently Asked Questions about copyright. Note that the content providers used by the Hill Library or linked to from Hill Library Web sites each have their own copyright policies, and you must review each provider's policy prior to using their copyrighted work.

The James J. Hill Reference Library cannot give legal advice or offer opinions on what is permitted or prohibited. For further, authoritative information on copyright, please refer to Title 17 of the United States Code.

Interim Designation of Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement.

Do I own the copyright to the articles I print from the sources provided in the Hill Business Web Directory?

Can I download or print one copy of content found on Hill Library's Web sites or the content found on the sources provided in the Hill Business Web Directory?

What is the Fair Use policy?

How can I use the Copyright Clearance Center?

Can I use articles I find through the Web on my Intranet?

What are the limitations of Hill Library's Document Delivery service?

Do I own the copyright to the articles I print from the sources provided in the Hill Business Web Directory?

No. The Hill Business Web Directory is a listing of links to various Web sites. Those Web sites have their own copyright policies that must be followed at all times.

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Can I download or print one copy of content found on Hill Library's Web sites or the content found on the sources provided in the Hill Business Web Directory?

No. You may download or print a reasonable portion of the provided content.
While fair use laws do not offer a definition of "reasonable portion," it is generally held to be a small portion of the entire original, and is only as much as is needed to serve a specific objective, in this case your specific business research question(s). If you have further questions about fair use, you may check the fair use doctrine, or use the Copyright Clearance Center’s Fair Use Checklist.

Be sure to check each individual Web site's copyright policy before downloading or printing any content from any Web site recommended by the Hill Library.

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What is the Fair Use policy?

"Fair Use" is a defense to the unauthorized copying of copyrighted materials. Section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act expressly states that the fair use of copyrighted work includes reproduction (photocopying) of copies for purposes such as teaching or research, including multiple copies for classroom use. However, the act also states that its statement of the fair use doctrine in Section 107 offers some guidance to users but that it is not intended to "freeze the doctrine in the statute."

For more information on Fair Use you may want to access the "Agreement on Guidelines for Classroom Copying In Not-For-Profit Educational Institutions" at http://www.cni.org/docs/infopols/NACS.html.

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How can I use the Copyright Clearance Center?

The Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) is an agent for thousands of publishers, authors, and other copyright holders that can authorize you to photocopy excerpts from over 1.75 million "repertory" titles. To learn more about CCC and the scope and limitations of its services, go to http://www.copyright.com or call 978-750-8400.

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Can I use articles I find through the Web on my Intranet?

No. However, the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) provides a digital permissions service to allow for the internal use of digital versions of copyrighted materials. Please contact the CCC at http://www.copyright.com for more information, or call 978-750-8400.

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What are the limitations of Hill Library's Document Delivery service?

Hill Library operates its Document Delivery service in accordance with the copyright law of the United States Title 17 of the United States Code. We reserve the right to refuse a request for document delivery if, in our judgment, fulfilling the request would violate copyright law. In that case, we are happy to research your purchase or Interlibrary Loan options.