Copyright for Faculty: Best Practices

Best Practices and copyright considerations to keep in mind:

• When claiming fair use, keep a documented record of your Fair Use Evaluation Checklist on file should it ever be questioned
• Attribute the original author of the work used, even in Fair Use and Creative Commons licensing scenarios
• Instead of posting PDF files directly within Canvas (which likely will end up being a copyright violation), link out to e-resources within library databases or use links to resources found freely on the web.
• Test links in Canvas prior to the start of each term to ensure e-resources are still accessible.

For a more extensive understanding of copyright, review the infographic below. Click the image for a larger view.

Infographic by Rebecca Johnson and created as part of a Creative Commons Certificate course.

Grace librarians are not the copyright police, nor are we legal experts in copyright. It is our responsibility to provide resources, but not advice in regards to what you can and cannot do in your courses. The interpretation of copyright law is up to the individual.