Copyright is a federal law with defined parameters and expectations, and it has a significant impact on the activities of the academy. Copyright law mediates between the rights of creators (writers, researchers, and publishers) and users (teachers, students, readers, and the public). As members of both groups, academics must grapple with copyright in their regular work life. But copyright can be difficult to understand, even for legal scholars.

That's where the University Libraries can help. The Libraries' Copyright Education and Information Initiative informs and educates the University community on copyright and its application in teaching, research, and scholarship. The initiative promotes awareness throughout the academic community with information resources, workshops, presentations, and consultation services. The Initative's website offers background, examples of copyright applications in the academy, an FAQ, and a Fair Use Analysis Tool to help you determine if your practices meet the parameters of copyright law.