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Copyright Compliance for Integrative Master’s Projects

Compliance with copyright law is crucial for works that are intended to circulate in the Library. Please use these guidelines when working on your Integrative Master’s Project. Copyright standards are stricter for works that live in the Library than for materials used in a classroom setting.

For independent studies or portfolios intended to circulate, permissions should be sought for any copies of copyrighted materials that are included, particularly if they exceed the "brevity" parameters summarized below. Copyrighted materials include: books, recorded music, websites (and the images found on them), artwork, photographs, and dramatic works. The “educational use” exemption does not apply to materials that circulate in the Library.

Failure to show proof of permission may result in the work being withheld from public use. Please make sure you include a copy of each of the permissions you have obtained with your work. Additionally, a full citation for the copyrighted material must appear on the same page as the material. Examples of permissions letters are available on this page of the Library website.

The brevity parameters of fair use are:

• a copy of print material (up to 10%, or 1000 words, whichever is less, of a copyrighted work)
• a single picture
• a single page of a children's book
• a short (thirty second) excerpt from an audio or video recording
• a single page from a Web site

If the amount of material used falls within the brevity parameters, permission is not required; however, a full citation is required for all copyrighted material used. Please note that permissions rules apply to every thesis, regardless of its form (print or electronic) as well as portfolios, print or electronic, if they are intended to circulate. The Library has copies of the following books to help with copyright questions:

Crawford, T. The writer’s legal guide, 2nd ed. Call #346.7304 C899w2t
Simpson, C. Copyright catechism: practical answers to everyday school dilemmas. Call # 346.730482 S613c
Simpson, C. Copyright for schools: a practical guide, 4th ed. Call # 346.730482 S613c4
Talab, R.S. Commonsense copyright: A guide for educators and librarians, 2nd ed. Call # 346.730482 T137c2

Here are three websites that will be useful:

Bank Street College Copyright Guidelines (includes examples of permissions letters)
http://streetcat.bankstreet.edu/html/copyright.html

Copyright Law and Graduate Research: (This page was written for dissertations, but all the information is applicable to circulating master’s theses.)
http://www.umi.com/products_umi/dissertations/copyright

United States Copyright Office:
http://www.copyright.gov/

As always, if you have specific questions about copyright, please call Linda (x4450) or Carol (x4456).

For more information, contact: cvanhouten@bankstreet.edu
Last Modified: September 29, 2006
© Bank Street College of Education. All Rights Reserved. Images may not be reproduced or expropriated in whole, in part, or in any other manner unless permission is expressly stated.