Definition

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, digital and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. There are some specific exceptions in the Copyright Act for certain academic uses under the doctrine of “fair use”; however, there are some limitations to this principle that must be identified. If an individual is not a copyright holder for a particular work, as determined by the law, that individual must ordinarily obtain copyright permission prior to reusing or reproducing that work. A complete version of U.S Copyright Law can be viewed at http://www.copyright.gov/title17/. 

Copyright Laws

Under any circumstance in which copyright laws may apply, faculty, staff and students of SCC are encouraged to refer to the resources provided within this policy to ensure compliance with applicable laws. Due to the complexity and quantity of copyright issues, the following links are provided to assist users in finding the relevant information for each situation and the applicability of copyright laws. The resources listed are not all-inclusive. Additional information or clarification may be obtained through professional associations related to the discipline or subject. 

College Resources

Use the library's Copyright Resources Guide to access relevant resources and links, including instructions for requesting copyright permission and infringement penalty information. Additional guidance can be obtained by contacting the Library Reference Desk at ext. 8620 or click SCC Library Copyright Policy for more information. The Library Reference Desk may request copyright permission on behalf of faculty, staff and students. To obtain copyright permission, please contact the SCC Library Reference Desk. 

Reports of Infringement

To report copyright infringement, click Report. 

Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) Compliance Plan

The College maintains a Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance plan to combat unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials by users of SCC's networks. In accordance with this plan, a disclosure is distributed to students annually.

 

Content Owner: Academic Affairs
Revised: 03/2017, 03/2021

Policy