Wichita State University

Policies and Procedures Manual

Copyright Policy

Initiating

Authority:                  Vice-President and General Counsel 

Accountability:          Vice-President and General Counsel

Purpose:                                 To state University policy relative to the use of copyrighted materials by faculty and staff of the University.

I.                   Preamble

The federal copyright law (Title 17, United States Code, Section 101, et seq.) protects creative works.  It is appropriate, and required, that all members of the Wichita State University (WSU) community, including faculty, staff, students, and volunteers respect the proprietary rights of owners of copyrights and  refrain from actions that constitute an infringement of copyright or other proprietary rights.

II.        Policy Statement

1.      All faculty and staff are expected to comply with the federal copyright law and obtain permission for use unless the use can fairly and reasonably be interpreted as “fair use.”   Faculty, staff and employees are expected to review this policy and request further information and resources as needed that may be utilized for purposes of determining compliance with the federal copyright law.

2.      Copyright Guidelines have been prepared by the University’s Office of General Counsel and can be located at (link) to assist members of the WSU community in complying with federal copyright law and to enable individuals to distinguish between permitted and prohibited uses of copyrighted materials.  Members of the WSU community are expected to familiarize themselves with these guidelines and to fully comply with their requirements.

3.      Faculty members and staff who willfully disregard this Copyright Policy place themselves individually at risk of legal action.  In such cases, the University may refuse to defend the employee named in any litigation and personal liability may be incurred by the employee.

4.   The University copy center located in WSU Copy and Print Services is available for copying services.  All material to be copied by the WSU Copy and Print Services must be reviewed by the faculty or staff member requesting copy services for copyright implications and the faculty or staff member must sign the Customer Statement of the Duplication of Copyrighted Written Works which can be located at (link) and is provided in the WSU Copy and Print Services office.  Material may be presented for copying only where copying of the material can fairly and reasonably be considered fair use or where there is a University license to copy the material or where there is permission to copy, which shall be clearly set forth on the material to be copied. 

5.   The Office of the Vice-President and General Counsel is available for further guidance on specific questions regarding the application of the federal copyright law to specific factual scenarios.  

Implementation

This policy shall be included in the WSU Policies & Procedures Manual and shared with appropriate constituencies of the University.

The Vice-President and General Counsel shall have primary responsibility for publication, dissemination and implementation of this University policy.

V.        Effective Date

This policy will become effective on                                     . 

REVIEW AND APPROVED:

Donald L. Beggs, President

Date