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Office of Research > UC Davis InnovationAccess > for UC Davis Community > Activity Center > Use someone else’s copyrighted works
Use someone else’s copyrighted works
Under US Copyright Law, you must have a written license to exercise copyrights to someone else's copyrighted work unless you meet a specific legal exception.
- Determine if you need a license
- Is it protected by copyright? (See UC Davis
P&PM section 250-01) If no, it's not a copyright problem to use
it. If yes,
- Is your planned use a copyright (Again see UC Davis
P&PM section 250-01), and therefore require permission of the copyright
holder? If no, you can use it. If yes,
- Is it old or a government publication? It might be in the public
domain and you can use it without a license. If not,
- Is there a "fair
use" or TEACH Act exception to the license requirement? If yes, you can use
it without a written license, but be sure to include the proper copyright
notice for the copyright holder.
- If not, you will need a license.
- If you need a license
You need to contact the copyright owner, who may be different from the author/artist. The Copyright Web Resources page can help you with this. Once you identify the copyright owner you have several options.
Once you identify the copyright owner you have several options.
- Contact the copyright owner directly using this form letter (PDF, DOC). Get a signed letter and you are good to go.
- For non-commercial licenses to The Regents rather than to you as an individual, please contact copyright@ucdavis.edu for assistance, as the license must be signed by UC Davis InnovationAccess.
- UC Davis campus ReproGraphics provides excellent service obtaining copyright licenses for materials used in the course readers, syllabi and other materials they produce. They are a full-service shop unlike private off-campus companies.
- For commercial software check with the IET Software Licensing Center or Purchasing.
Also see:
Copyright Web Resources
UC Davis InnovationAccess Copyrights homepage
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