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#Harvard HFS - Copyright Law Guide

When copying materials from books, journals, and other publications, HFS Centers will abide by federal copyright laws. Instructors, colleges, universities, copy shops and their employees that illegally reproduce copyrighted materials can be held responsible for copyright infringement, a federal crime. For this reason, all materials reproduced by HFS must meet the "Fair Use" guidelines laid down by the federal government. HFS is not able to obtain copyright permissions under any circumstance.

Published works enter the public domain 95 years after the death of the author UNLESS ownership rights have been transferred to another person, corporation, or estate who renews the copyright ownership with the federal government. Therefore it is best to assume that ALL published work are still protected under copyright law. A work's being "out of print" does not mean that it has entered the public domain.

Fair Use

The guidelines collectively known as "Fair Use" establish the types of teaching, research, and classroom use copying that are lawful without first obtaining permission from the copyright owner. Each copy made under fair use requires a notice of copyright.

A single copy is permitted of the following:

• Chapter from a book
• Article from a periodical or newspaper
• Short story, short essay, or short poem
• Map, chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, or picture from a book, periodical, or newspaper

Multiple copies are permitted (up to the number of students in a class) if and only if the copying meets all of the following three tests: brevity, spontaneity, and cumulative effect.

Brevity Guidelines:

Spontaneity Guidelines:

Cumulative Effect Guidelines:

Copies are NEVER permitted without first obtaining copyright: