Copyrighted Materials: What You Should Know 

Definition | Example | Illegal copying | Liability | Responsibility

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Definition

Copyright is the legal authority to copy books, recordings, software, videos, photos, and other creative products. Copyright may be owned, bought, and sold, and copyright owners may grant or sell copying licenses to individuals or institutions.

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Example

The right to copy Microsoft Word®, the word processing program, is owned by Microsoft Corporation. Persons who buy a copy of the Word program do not buy the right to copy the program, except as stipulated in the licensing agreement accompanying the purchased software (usually allowing the purchaser to copy the program for archival purposes.)

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Illegal copying

Anyone who copies copyrighted material without a license to copy may be violating the copyright laws of the United States.

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Liability

Both the College and individual faculty and staff members are liable for damages if copyrighted materials are reproduced without permission or in violation of the law.

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Responsibility

The users of computers, convenience copiers, and recording machines are all affected by copyright regulations. The user is responsible for compliance with the law.

Last modified: Monday February 16 2004
URL:http://inside.cpcc.edu/bookstore/copyright.htm