Please read, and take to heart, the following notice that is posted by all of the Library's copy machines:
| NOTICE: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The person using this equipment is responsible for any infringement. |
Click here to see a list of books about copyright in the Library's collection.
In addition to our physical books, here are two ebooks in our collection you can download or read online:
THE LAW
Copyright Law of the United States, Title 17
"This publication contains the text of Title 17 of the United States Code, including all amendments enacted by Congress through December 27, 2020. It includes the Copyright Act of 1976 and all subsequent amendments to copyright law; the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984, as amended; and the Vessel Hull Design Protection Act, as amended. The Copyright Office is responsible for registering intellectual property claims under all three."
The United States Copyright Office
Help for you from the ultimate authority. This is a useful site: well-written, well-organized, with a lot of information, forms, and practical links.
INDEPENDENT GUIDES AND INTERPRETATIONS OF COPYRIGHT LAW AND FAIR USE
For Teachers and Students
New England Conservatory Copyright Guidelines
Concise guidelines created for an institution similar to ours.
Use of Copyrighted Music on College and University Campuses
From the American Council on Education
Copyright Law: What Music Teachers Need to Know
From the National Association for Music Education
Copyright in the Classroom
From the University of California.
Copyright in the Classroom
From Ball State University.
Copyright for Instructors
From Indiana University.
A Teacher's Guide to Copyright and Fair Use
From the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
The Teach Act
A basic guide for instructors.
Videos in the Classroom and the TEACH Act
A concise guide to what teachers may and may not show in class, whether face-to-face or online.
General
Copyright and Fair Use
The concept of fair use is poorly understood by most people. This well-organized site from Stanford University can help.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
A short film by Eric Faden made entirely of clips from Disney films that cleverly both explains fair use and demonstrates it at the same time.
Jason Robert Brown. Fighting with Teenagers: A Copyright Story
“Hey there! Can I get you to stop trading my stuff? It’s totally not cool with me. Write me if you have any questions, I’m happy to talk to you about this. Thanks, J.”
Music Copyright Tutorials
Three brief videos that explain the basics.
The Music Library Association
Information geared to music librarians and music library users.
The Music Publishers Association of the United States
The publishers' view of copyright. There are links to some excellent external sites for additional copyright information.