Under copyright law you have a personal responsibility to the copyright holder and to your employer to be compliant. Ignoring this responsibility while you go about your job can put you and your organization at risk. Penalties for copyright infringement can range from restrictions on the information available to you, to a lawsuit that could damage the reputation of your organization and cause financial harm. Copyright requirements also extend to outside suppliers, such as document deliverers and other information sources that provide you with copyright-protected material.
In addition to the legal responsibilities, there are also ethical responsibilities in using content created by other parties. Publishers, writers and other creators produce work with the expectation that it will not be used without their express permission, they will be compensated fairly for the re-use of their work, and the integrity of their work will be maintained. By complying with copyright law, you are demonstrating respect for other’s property and helping to ensure the continued availability of the third-party content you rely on.
The bottom line is that almost all of the content produced today is protected by copyright law. From both a legal and an ethical standpoint, you need the permission of the copyright holder before you re-use most copyright-protected material.
Using This Guide
To achieve copyright compliance you need a clear understanding of the
ways copyright law applies to your day-to-day activities and those of
your organization, as well as the methods to obtain the copyright permission
you require.
This Guide to Copyright Compliance for Business Professionals, produced by Copyright Clearance Center, offers helpful information about the legal issues that surround the photocopying, e-mailing and Web-posting of text materials as they relate to your place of business. This valuable resource can help ensure that you and your organization are operating in compliance with copyright law.
Contents:
Educational Components
Copyright 101
– A brief introduction to copyright law.
Copyright and Photocopies – Copyright law as it relates to re-use in print.
Copyright and Digital Content – Copyright law as it relates to re-use in digital format such as e-mail, Internet, intranet and extranet.
Obtaining Permission – Information to guide you in obtaining permission to re-use copyright-protected material.
Compliance Policies and Solutions
Corporate Compliance
Policy – The purpose of and need for this important document.
Compliance
Solutions – Information about Copyright Clearance Center's
convenient copyright licensing services.
This Guide to Copyright Compliance for Business Professionals was compiled by Copyright Clearance Center to improve and enhance copyright education and awareness. It is not intended to provide legal advice or to serve as a substitute for legal counsel. To learn more about Copyright Clearance Center, call 978-750-8400 and ask to speak to a Licensing Consultant, send an e-mail to licensing@copyright.com or visit www.copyright.com.
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