Copyright law is complicated, and for good or for ill, increasingly important in scholarship and academia. The following guides seek to provide answers to frequently asked questions, help authors learn effectively use and enforce their rights, and to demystify copyright law as much as possible.
If you have a question that is not answered in a guide below, do not hesitate to contact copyright@umich.edu.
Copyright Basics: A brief introduction to copyright law. This guide is useful for getting your bearings.
Exceptions to Copyright: Copyright has built in limitations. Learn about fair use, expiration, and other copyright exceptions.
University of Michigan Copyright Policy: An overview of the policy determining who holds the copyright to a work produced at the University of Michigan.
File Sharing: An overview of the concerns around peer to peer file sharing and some collected resources for learning more.
Using Copyrighted Material: What can I use, where can I use it, and how much?
Publishing: Publishing is an important facet of academic life. Managing your copyright and sharing your work can help you have the greatest impact.
Sharing: We love sharing! Doing it well can help your ideas reach more people more quickly.
Requesting Permission: When you need to use a copyrighted work, and no exceptions apply, permission is your best bet.
