RESEARCH TIP OF THE MONTH

    Fair use copyright guidelines must be used by both faculty and student researchers when information resources are utilized for any type of project, whether that project might be a paper, a power point presentation, or a computer generated movie.  While fair use guidelines are very complex, the "bare necessities" are:

1.  Purpose:  Is the material being used for educational purposes only?  Will it be "transformed" into something new?  (In other words, always make sure the information you find is written in your own words).

2.  Nature:  Is the source being used fiction/non-fiction; educational/commercial; audio/print?  Non-Fiction, educational and print materials, of course, are more favorably afforded fair usage privileges.

3.  Amount:  Basically, reproduce only a small portion of any work and do not use copyrighted pictures or most of a magazine article within your production.

4.  Effect:  Will the effect of your work lead to any commercial usages?  If so, do not use copyrighted material within your project/production.

For more information about copyright laws, visit:

            http://www.cccti.edu/LRC/Services/Copyright.htm

               http://www.stfrancis.edu/cid/copyrightbay/

              http://www.copyright.iupui.edu/fairuse.htm