Copyright Information for SJR State Employees: Copyright Basics

Copyright law, as defined in Title 17 of the United States Code, protects "original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression" for a limited period. Copyright protection includes, for instance, the legal right to publish and sell literary, artistic, or musical work, and copyright protects authors, publishers and producers, and the public.  Copyright applies both to traditional media (books, records, etc.) and to digital media (electronic journals, web sites, etc.). Copyright protects the following eight categories of works:

1. literary works
2. musical works
3. dramatic works
4. pantomimes and choreographic works
5. pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
6. motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7. sound recordings
8. architectural works

Ownership of a copyrighted work includes the right to control the use of that work. Use of such work by others during the term of the copyright requires either permission from the author or reliance on the doctrine of fair use. Failure to do one or the other will expose the user to a claim of copyright infringement for which the law provides remedies including payment of money damages to the copyright owner.

P2P refers to “peer to peer” file sharing networking. The term refers to a decentralized computing network in which users exchange files directly with other users.

Please click on page 1 and page 2 of our pamphlet  to read more about P2P sharing and how it relates to you.

Click here to view. The scenarios provided are intended to help faculty and students evaluate fair use and should not be construed as legal advice. These guidelines are simply that and in no way guarantee exemption from infringement.

Content used with permission from the Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology | 5 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201