Copyright and Fair Use

United States Copyright Law, 17 U.S.C. 101-1332, establishes copyright protections for an original work of authorship for literary works; musical works; dramatic works; pantomimes and choreographic works; pictorial, graphic and sculptural works; sound recordings; and architectural works. If the copyrighted material is used for purposes such as teaching, scholarship, or research, then an exception is made “to the exclusive rights enjoyed by copyright owners” through fair use [see TSC Board Policy CT (LEGAL)]. According to TSC Board Policy CT (LOCAL), “unless the proposed use of a copyrighted work is an exception under the ‘fair use’ guidelines maintained by the College President or designee, the College District shall require an employee or student to obtain a license or permission from the copyright holder before copying, modifying, displaying, performing, distributing, or otherwise employing the copyright holder's work for instructional, curricular, or extracurricular purposes. This policy does not apply to any work sufficiently documented to be in the public domain.”

For more information on copyright protections, please refer to the Fair Use, Performances and Displays, Guidelines, Copyright Infringement, Online Copyright Infringement and other relevant sections of TSC Board Policy CT (LEGAL) and TSC Board Policy CT (LOCAL).