Copyright Information for Authors, Researchers, and Scholars
Rights of copyright holders
1. Reproduction
2. Modification
3. Distribution
4. Public performance
5. Public display
Who owns the copyright?
Creators of original works
Creators' assignees
Employers: works for hire
Sample Statements of Ownership
Learn about Creative Commons through YouTube
Use Creative Commons to add your copyright notice to your ETD.
Permission to use a copyrighted work is NOT required if:
- Work is a fact or an idea
- Fair use
- Work is in the public domain
A public domain work is not protected by copyright and may be freely used by everyone. A work is also in the public domain if it is a work of the US Government or the term of copyright has expired.
Tools to help determine when copyright expires:
Timeline (UNC)
Slider (ALA)
US © Office
Circulars and Factsheets
Copyright Basics
(2008)
Copyright Information for VT
Citing copyrighted works
© Policies and Tools
ETD Copyright Flier
Fair Use Tools
Fair Use Analyzer Test tool
Fair Use Checklist Weigh the 4 factors
Registering copyright
Why? Possibly receive greater compensation, with less documentation when filing an infringement suit
How?
Register online
Fees
Publishers Attitudes towards ETDs
- Findings from the 2011 Publishers' Survey
McMillan et al., International Symposiumon ETDs, 2011 - Do ETDs Deter Publishers?
College and Research Libraries News, 2001 - ETDs: A Survey of Editors and Publishers
Joan Dalton, International Symposium on ETDs, 2000 - ETDs as Prior Publication: What the Editors Say
Nancy Seamans, Library Hi Tech, 2003 - ETDs: Two Surveys of Editors and Publishers
Joan Dalton and Nancy Seamans in ETD: A Sourcebook for Educators, Students, and Librarians. NY: Marcel Dekker, 2004
Do you need permission?
Publisher copyright & self-archiving policiesSample letter to request permission
- Sherpa RoMEO
- Elsevier’s policy
