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- Copyright and Fair Use: The Basics
- Posting Course Materials Online
Copyright and Fair Use: The Basics: Posting Course Materials Online
Exceptions
In the following circumstances, posting PDF copies or other files does not violate copyright:
- The instructor is the copyright holder.
- The copyright holder grants permission. Note that Open Access and/or Creative Commons releases often effectively grant advanced permission for copying and distribution.
- The work is in the public domain, e.g., works originally created by the U.S. Federal Government or works whose copyright has expired.
- The work meets fair use tests: copying for classroom use or discussion provided that the copy meets tests of brevity (e.g., a complete article of less than 2,500 words) and spontaneity (so that it would be unreasonable to expect a timely reply to a request for permission).
Best Practice: Making Links to Content
Uploading or emailing a file such as a PDF copy of a journal article may be a violation of copyright. This is true even if access is restricted to authorized users, for example via learning management systems (LMS) such as Blackboard.
License agreements that govern the use of Levy Library's online resources do not grant users unrestricted rights to download, copy and distribute content.
Providing a link to the content can avoid potential copyright and licensing violations.
Creating Links for Online Library Resources
The Library has transitioned to OpenAthens as the authentication tool to access most library-subscribed online resources.
To create a link to library-subscribed online resources such as books, journals, you will need to use the OpenAthens Link Generator Tool.
OpenAthens Link Generator Tool
To use the OpenAthens link Generator:
- Go to https://go.openathens.net/generate/mssm.edu/81008449
- Paste the URL for the resource you would like to use into the "Enter your links" field. You can paste multiple links separated by a space or new line.
- Click Enter.
- The tool should generate an OpenAthens link to the resource that you could copy and paste wherever you need to use it (Blackboard, syllabus, email, etc.).
