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University Libraries

Copyright Basics

This guide will help you understand how copyright affects you as a user. You can also learn about the new ways creators and users are sharing creative works fairly.

Using Copyrighted Material Legally

These sections will help you understand how to use copyrighted materials legally in your work, as well as understand which kinds of materials are freely available for use.

Fair Use
Fair Use is the allowance of limited use of copyrighted material without permissions.

In the Classroom and Publications
Fair use allows students and teachers to use copyrighted materials without permission certain circumstances.

Freely Available Works
Information about Creative Commons, public domain, and open access works.

OA Databases
This list of databases will help you find open access materials.