Copyright Law and Fair Use
Students, Faculty and staff have an obligation to practice high copyright standards and comply with policies and laws.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) passed by Congress in 1998, makes it illegal to copy or share intellectual property--music, videos, games, software and other materials--without permissions. Doane University adheres to the regulations and guidelines outline by the DMCA.
Fair Use
Fair Use comprises Section 107 of the Copyright Act and was set up in recognition that free exchange of information is beneficial. Four standards are applied: the purpose and character of the use; the nature of the copyrighted work; the amount and substantiality of the portion used; and the effect of the use on the publisher's potential market.
However, the vast majority of online music and video sharing is done in ways that do not constitute fair use. The good news is that there are legal sources.
Legal online sources for copyrighted materials
There are many legal sources for copyrighted material such as music and movies; some are even free.
The Motion Picture Association of America
EDUCAUSE - Legal Downloading Resource
Perkins Library
Doane Faculty Copyright Resources
To learn more about federal copyright laws, you can visit the United States Copyright Office at the Library of Congress.