Using Copyrighted Works in the Classroom or in Brightspace

On Campus Faculty

Linking

Linking to freely available Web content is not an infringement of copyright.  Providing persistent links to online resources owned/leased by Wellehan Library to current SJC students, faculty, or staff (via email, in Brightspace, or in internal departmental documents) is also not an infringement of copyright. For assistance with creating persistent links to content in Wellehan Library’s online resources, contact Shelly Davis or Chuck Prinn.

Fair Use Guidelines for Classroom Copying

For one time use (“teachable moment”) only, faculty may copy and hand out in class or scan and post in Angel –

  • one chapter or 10% of an entire book
  • one article per journal, magazine, or newspaper issue

Annual Copyright License

If the amount of material to be used exceeds Fair Use limits and/or the material will be used more than one time, the use may be allowed under the College’s Annual Copyright License from the Copyright Clearance Center.

  • If the material is covered by the Annual Copyright License, faculty may copy and hand out in class or scan and post in Angel –

The material may be used repeatedly, semester after semester.

Seeking Permission

If the material cannot be linked to, exceeds the Fair Use guidelines, and is either covered by the Annual Copyright License but exceeds the guidelines or is not covered by the Annual Copyright License, permission from the copyright owner must be sought.  (Any fees for use will be the responsibility of the faculty member’s department.)  Two options:

The Faculty Copyright Assistant (Elaine Moesel) is available to assist faculty with seeking permission to use copyrighted works.

Departmental Copyright Guidelines

Course Reserves – Wellehan Library

Faculty wishing to place copyrighted material on reserve (physical or electronic), should consult the following documents.

For more information

Shelly Davis (893-7726)
Chuck Prinn (893-7725)

Copy Center

Faculty and staff wishing to have copyrighted materials reproduced at the Copy Center should review the following:

  • Copy Order and Copyright Release Form – This form must accompany all copy jobs submitted to the Copy Center.
  • Coursepacks – Please note that the Copy Center cannot reproduce coursepacks..

For more information

Copy Center (893-7730)

Coursepacks 

For information on creating a coursepack that would be sold to students through the MBS bookstore online, contact Susan Lachance by email or at 207-893-6653.

Online Faculty

There are three ways copyrighted materials (journal articles and/or portions of books) may be distributed to online students.

Linking

Linking to freely available Web content is not an infringement of copyright. Providing persistent links to online resources owned/leased by Wellehan Library to current SJC staff, faculty, or students (via email or in internal departmental documents) is also not an infringement of copyright. For assistance with creating persistent links to content in Wellehan Library’s online resources, contact Shelly Davis or Chuck Prinn.

Fair Use

To determine if the use of a copyrighted work is a Fair Use, SJC staff must consider four factors – purpose, nature, amount and effect.  The Copyright Clearance Center offers a Fair Use Check List staff should use in their good faith analysis and evaluation of any situation involving the use of copyrighted works for College business.

Annual Copyright License

If it is determined that the use of a work is not a Fair Use, the use may be allowed under the College’s Annual Copyright License from the Copyright Clearance Center.  If a work is covered, staff may use a reasonable amount of that work for College business.