Wayne G. Basler Library: Copyright Guide: Tools and Guidelines

USF Library Tutorials

USF Libraries Research & Instruction Video Channel. Getting Started with Copyright. You Tube.

Three minute 'Copyright Tidbits' on the basics and using copyrighted materials:

USF Libraries Research & Instruction Video Channel. Copyright Tidbits: What is Copyright. You Tube.

USF Libraries Research & Instruction Video Channel. Copyright TidBits: Using Copyrighted Materials. YouTube.

USF Checklists and Worksheets

Copyright Basics for Online Classes
Digital handout with tips for faculty creating or revising online courses.
Copyright Basics for Students
Digital handout with tips for students using copyrighted material in their work and projects.
Open Use Media Resources Handout
This handout covers some copyright basics and lists web sites for obtaining open use media resources for use in your projects
Permissions Request Template
Form suggested by USF General Counsel for use when requesting permissions from rights holders.
Using Creative Commons Licenses
Instructions for applying Creative Commons licenses to your own works.
USF Fair Use Checklist
This worksheet is offered as a tool to help you determine if your use of copyrighted content is likely to be considered to be a “fair use.”
USF T.E.A.C.H. Act Checklist
This checklist is provided as a tool to track compliance with the TEACH act and help point the way to other legal uses of copyrighted content should your project no fit the TEACH act.

Tools for determining the protected status of a work

The Copyright Genie
A question/answer wizard that determines the copyright protection on a work depending on age and policy. The end results can be exported into a PDF for personal record.
Copyright Registrations Public Catalog
United States Copyright Office's search for copyright registrations and renewals after 1978.
Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States
A table that clearly lays out the copyright status of a work based on publication year and/or renewal.
Digital Copyright Slider
Digital slider that shows the possible copyright status of works created at different times.
Digital Image Rights Computator
An online wizard created by the Visual Resources Association based on generally accepted practices regarding image acquisition and use in the educational environment
Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)
Free online search of the USPTO database. TESS provides access to text and images of registered marks, and marks in pending and abandoned applications.

Fair Use Best Practices and Guidelines

Educator's Guide to Creativity & Copyright
Helpful article and printable quick guide on copyright information for educators.
Fair Use Evaluator
A step by step wizard that will help you determine if your use might be fair.
for Academic and Research Libraries
Association for Research Libraries. (2012). Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries
for Open Educational Resources
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources (2021) from the Center for Media and Social Impact
for Media Literacy Education
Center for Media & Social Impact. Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education.
for Online Video
Code of Best Practices Committee (2008) Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video. AUSOC Center for Social Media
for Poetry
Aufderheide, P., Coles, K., Jaszi, P,. & Urban, J. (2011) Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Poetry. AUSOC Center for Social Media.
for Visual Arts
Center for Media & Social Impact. (2015) Code of Best Practices in the Fair Use for Visual Arts.
for Journalism
Set of Principles in Fair Use for Journalism (2013) from the Center for Media and Social Impact
for Open CourseWare
Committee of Practitioners of Opencourseware in the United States (2009) Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for OpenCourseWare. UASOC Center for Social Media.
for Scholarly Research and Communication
International Communication Association Ad Hoc Committee on Fair Use and Academic Freedom (2010) code of best practices in fair use for scholarly research in communication.
for Documentary Filmmakers
Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use. (2005) AUSOC Center for Social Media.
for Dance-Related Materials
Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use of Dance-Related Materials (2009) from the Center for Media and Social Impact