Fair Use and Copyright: Resources in the Library

This guide to technology copyright issues, designed and written for non-lawyers, aims to help one anticipate, avoid and respond appropriately to legal difficulties stemming from electronic copyright. The text includes guidelines on software, the Internet and scanning documents.

This books answers basic copyright questions that should assist you with determined whether the way you plan to use a material is appropriate and legal.

How do you determine if material is copyright protected? What is fair use? Who can grant permission to use material? These are just a few of the myriad of possible copyright questions you (or a patron) may be called upon to deal with. Written for librarians by a librarian who is also an attorney, this is a step-by-step guide to making correct decisions on whatever copyright issue, large or small, that you are facing. The important elements of the law are covered in depth; flow charts provide a framework for your decision making.

This authoritative reference to the thorny issues of copyright, trademarks and patents provides detailed explanations of the various types of intellectual property, how they differ, what they cover and how the protections affect library work and services to customers.

Copyright in the world of digital information is changing at a fevered pace, even as educators and librarians digitize, upload, download, draw on databases, and incorporate materials into web-based instruction. It's essential to stay abreast of copyright law and fair use without information overload. For fresh, timely insights and application of copyright law for librarians, educators, and academics, Professor Crews maps the territory in a dramatically revised edition of Copyright Essentials. Readers will: learn basic copyright definitions and key exceptions for education and library services; find information quickly with key points sidebars, legislative citations and cross-references; understand the four factors of fair use and related court interpretations;and get up to speed on current interpretations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act from a librarian-educator viewpoint. Highly praised in its 2000 edition, the new Copyright Essentials draws on cutting edge case law in 18 discrete areas of copyright, including specialized and controversial music and sound recording issues. their rights and responsibilities as copyright owners and users in this succinct, easy-to-use guide.