Copyright Guidelines
Copyright is a complex area. The information below is not comprehensive nor does it constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of all staff and students to ensure that they comply with the law and the terms of any licences. Please read the notices displayed near the printers/photocopiers. If in doubt about any copyright issue, err on the side of caution and seek further advice. Copyright infringement may lead to prosecution.
What is copyright?
"Copyright is a property right which arises automatically on the creation of various categories of work, and protects the rights and interests of the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts, and cable programmes and the typographical arrangements of published editions."
From: Pedley, P. (1998). Copyright for library and information service professionals. London: Aslib., p.1.
Who owns copyright?
The creator of the work is the first owner, usually. Copyright may be owned by the creator's employer, if a work is created in the course of employment. Copyright can be assigned or sold, eg, to a publisher.
How long does copyright last? Copyright duration is usually:
UK Legislation
The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act seeks to strike a balance between the rights of copyright owners and the use of copyright material. Under the Act you may make one copy only from printed material for research and private study. This material cannot be re-copied. 'Fair dealing' is usually interpreted to mean no more than:
The main exceptions from copying are printed music (only short excerpts for study not performance are allowed) and photographs.
For more information please visit The Copyright Licensing Agency's website.
What is copyright?
"Copyright is a property right which arises automatically on the creation of various categories of work, and protects the rights and interests of the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, sound recordings, films, broadcasts, and cable programmes and the typographical arrangements of published editions."
From: Pedley, P. (1998). Copyright for library and information service professionals. London: Aslib., p.1.
Who owns copyright?
The creator of the work is the first owner, usually. Copyright may be owned by the creator's employer, if a work is created in the course of employment. Copyright can be assigned or sold, eg, to a publisher.
How long does copyright last? Copyright duration is usually:
- 70 years from the death of the author for literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works
- 50 years for sound recordings, broadcasts and cable programmes from first release
- 25 years for the typographical arrangements of published editions.
UK Legislation
The 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act seeks to strike a balance between the rights of copyright owners and the use of copyright material. Under the Act you may make one copy only from printed material for research and private study. This material cannot be re-copied. 'Fair dealing' is usually interpreted to mean no more than:
- one article from any one journal issue
- one chapter from a book or 5% of the total publication
- A4 excerpt of an OS map.
The main exceptions from copying are printed music (only short excerpts for study not performance are allowed) and photographs.
For more information please visit The Copyright Licensing Agency's website.