As a teacher, you make frequent use of copyrighted materials: in course handouts and packets, multimedia, course reserves, and possibly in materials you make available or publish digitally. Here you can find practical guidance on how to handle these situations.

Can I use it?

In deciding whether you can reproduce a given work for use in teaching, you should first consider the principles of fair use. You can use a checklist to help decide whether fair use applies in your case. If it does not, then you'll need to get permission to use it.

Course packs

In order to include copyrighted materials in a course pack, you need to get permission to use the materials. Brown Graphic Services can help you with all aspects of course pack development and provide advice on lead times needed to get permission, royalty fees, course pack pricing and production. Course pack orders and inquiries can be e-mailed to Coursepacks@brown.edu or contact: Laura Davis Tel. 863-1539, Fax. 863-1080, Brown Graphic Services, Box 1851.

Payment of royalty and permission fees

In some cases, copyright holders will charge a fee for use of their copyrighted materials. For materials being included in printed course packs, that fee can be incorporated into the cost of the course pack. For printed and digital materials being included in course reserves, the faculty member using the materials is responsible for paying any royalty fees.

Course reserves

Faculty who wish to put material on course reserve at the library need to be aware of some basic guidelines and deadlines.

Using or publishing student work

As authors, students hold copyright to their own work, even if created for a course. If you plan to publish student work, or to make student papers available as models for future classes, you should respect this right and get permission from your students to use or publish their work. You can use a student authorization form to make this process easier; see for instance the sample at George Mason University.

Where to go for more help

For general queries about copyright and fair use at Brown, send email to fairuse@brown.edu. If you have questions on specific topics, one of the names on our contact page may be able to help.