Preservation Department

Copyright Guidelines and Digital Media

The policy governing digital media is based on the provisions of the United States Copyright Act of 1976. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act, the making of photocopies or other reproductions for classroom use in permitted. However in determining fair use there are four factors:

• Purpose: the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit education purposes
• Nature: the nature of the copyrighted work
• Amount: the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
• Effect: the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work

Additional information on copyright is available from the United States Copyright Office.