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Copyright Basics

This guide provides information about using copyrighted materials in the online and face-to-face classroom. Disclaimer: This guide is intended to provide general information and does not constitute legal advice.

Coursepacks & Copyright

Course Packs

Course packs are compilations of material gathered by or at the request of faculty to serve as classroom texts or supplements.  Course packs have the potential to violate the original authors’ copyrights.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of an instructor wanting to create or use a course pack to clear copyright permissions for each document used in the course pack. 

BTC faculty wishing to use a course pack should first contact his/her dean, or department chair.  S/he should identify each document intended for use within the course pack.  The instructor then needs to provide written documentation of permission to duplicate and distribute the document.  Once all the documentation is obtained, the course pack can be duplicated and submitted through the proper channels for bookstore distribution. Please contact the BTC Bookstore for more information.

Due to the timeline for this, the instructor should allow one quarter before s/he hopes to implement the course pack.

There are several professional services and resources that can help with course pack copyright clearance.  It is up to the instructor to handle any fees associated with obtaining copyright clearance for course packs.

 

Getting Copyright Permission

To request permission from the publisher to put photocopies on reserve, a faculty member should communicate complete accurate information to the copyright owner. The American Association of Publishers suggests that the following information be included in the permission request letter: 

  • Title, author, and edition of materials to be duplicated. 
  • Exact material to be used: page numbers, chapters, and, if possible, a photocopy of the material. 
  • Number of copies to be made. 
  • Use to be made of the duplicated materials. 
  • Form of distribution. 
  • Whether or not the material is to be sold. 
  • Type of reprint. 

The request should be sent with a self-addressed, return envelope to the permission department of the publisher in question. It is advisable to allow lead time to obtain permission before the materials are needed. 

For example, Jennifer Kyrnin at About.com, Indiana University-Purdue University's Copyright Management Center, and the University of Texas' Office of the General Counsel have sample letters that you can use to create your request. (From Digital Media Law Project).

 

Thank you to Austin Community College for granting permission to use the information from their copyright webpages.