This paper presents an overview of copyright issues for research and teaching. The first section provides historical background from the origin of the concept of copyright in 1557 in Britain to the present. The second section looks at fair use, including parameters and guidelines for reproduction. The following sections discusses the Berne…

This digest focuses on a variety of issues confronting copyright law in the digital age. The current copyright law was adopted in 1976, and could not possibly have foreseen so many new technologies. However, it did attempt to cover all bases by using language which was intended to be somewhat elastic. A current report by the U.S. Department of…

The documentary materials collected in this booklet deal with reproduction of copyrighted works by educators, librarians, and archivists for a variety of uses, including reproduction for teaching in educational institutions at all levels and reproduction by libraries and archives for purposes of study, research, interlibrary exchanges, and…

Section 108 of the Copyright Act of 1976, Title 17 of the United States Code, spells out conditions under which libraries may photocopy copyrighted works without infringing the rights of their owners. Section 108(i) directs the Register of Copyrights to prepare and file a report every 5 years setting forth the extent to which this section has…

Explains to teachers and parish ministers the provisions of the "fair-use" copyright law of 1978, summarizing guidelines for copying books and periodicals, the educational use of music, and videotaping program and speakers. (AC)

The House Committee on the Judiciary reports favorably on a proposed amendment to a bill (H.R. 4412) to amend Title 17 of the U.S. Code relating to fair use of copyrighted works. The committee recommends passage of the bill to the effect that Section 107 of Title 17 be amended by adding at the end the following: "The fact that a work is…

Provisions of the new copyright law (Public Law 94-553) and its implications for classroom teachers are outlined, with guidelines for educational "fair use" in copying books and periodicals. (MF)

Presents the case for library photocopying. (PF)

Summarizes the testimony of a group of prominent authors before a Congressional committee dealing with copyright revision. (PF)

This September 29, 1976, report of the joint Senate-House of Representatives Conference Committee contains the amended text of a proposed new copyright law. An explanation of the specific points of conflict in the House and Senate versions of the bill and the resolutions suggested by the Conference Committee are appended. As reported out of the…

Attempts to familiarize teachers and others with the major provisions of the new copyright law signed by President Ford on October 19, 1976. (Author/RK)

Under previous copyright legislation and jurisprudence, medical, and to a lesser extent, educational professionals, were afforded broad discretion under the judicially created fair use doctrine. The Copyright Act of 1976 creates a statutory definition of fair use and prescribes a test to be used in determining when a use is "fair" and…

The Copyright Act of 1976 provides statutory definitions of fair use and in general is restrictive of the use of film and video in an educational setting, reflecting a general "copyright owner's" point of view. Film distributors are enforcing and planning to continue to enforce their rights under the law. There is a general concern that…

Explains how the new federal copyright law seriously jeopardizes the important author/creator rights embodied in the doctrine of moral rights, shortens the duration of protection for unpublished works, and poses the threat of greatly expanding "legal infringement" under the fair use rule. (GW)

Basic guidelines for compliance to new federal legislation on copyrights are given. (MJB)