Copyright is the legal term, which describes the rights given to authors/creators of certain categories of work. Copyright protection extends to the following works:
original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works (traditionally called the “classical” copyrights);
film, sound recordings, broadcasts and the typographical arrangement of published editions (often called “related rights”, because they involve the exploitation of “classical” works);
computer software and non-original databases (despite their modest credentials as “creative” works) and
performances.
From a content user’s perspective, copyright is a set of guidelines that enable us to access and share published material in a way that is fair and acceptable.
Copyright Association of Ireland
CONUL Copyright Guide Revised Edition March 2024
COPYRIGHT Generally lasts the lifetime of the author plus 70 years
MIC has a higher education licence which permits lecturers and academics to photocopy or download material for teaching purposes.
This licence covers the copying and distribution of up to 10% of materials such as:
Books
Journals
Magazines
Digital versions and ebooks
Newspapers
Websites
Fair use” is the right to use portions of copyrighted materials without permission for purposes of education, commentary, or parody.
Note that you must still credit the author as the original source material and reference accordingly!
Check if copying/scanning is allowed: The ICLA has made a list of Irish Excluded Works
If material already exists in a digital format, provide a link to it, rather than scanning it
Place material on the VLE, making it accessible to authorised users only
Only create copies for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Always display full bibliographic reference of the copied work
It is the individual's responsibility to ensure they are compliant with copyright law!
The term “public domain” refers to materials that are not under copyright. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission.
Works can enter the public domain when:
Copyright expires
The author places the work in the public domain before the copyright has ended or chooses not to copyright their work
Even when using material in the public domain, you must credit the original author/s
Creative Commons is a non-profit organisation that permits the sharing and use of information through free and legitimate use. Their licences give you an easy and consistent way to provide permission to share and use authors work under their terms.
Creative Commons works along with copyright enabling it to adapt to best suit a users requirements
