Copyright Permissions and Personal Releases
Responsibility for securing releases and avoiding copyright infringement rests with content owners posting materials on the Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) web site.
The W&J Web Site Personal Release and Copyright Permission Plan has three components:
- Fair Use, Public Domain, and Release Determination,
- Release and Permission Policies and Procedures, and
- Complaint and Response Policies and Procedures.
I. Fair use, public domain, and releases
Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center (includes a section on releases)
Copyright Term and Public Domain in the United States (Cornell)
II. Gaining release or permission
A. If existing creative work is not available through public domain, assume that it is copyrighted.
10 Big Myths about Copyright Explained (Brad Templeton)
Crash Course in Copyright (University of Texas)
B. Release and permission forms (hard copy only, licensed through Nolo) for the W&J web site are available on Reserve at the Circulation Desk of U. Grant Miller Library.
1. If you photograph someone, have one of the following forms signed before you post her or his image on the web site:
- Unlimited Personal Release Agreement
- Limited Personal Release Agreement
2. Before posting a passage of published written text, send to the author the following letter and ask her or him to sign and return the agreement:
- Text Permission Letter
- Text Permission Agreement
3. Before posting an existing photograph for which you do not hold the copyright, use the following:
- Photo Permission Agreement
- Photo Permission Worksheet (optional)
C. Documentation—and record keeping—of releases and permissions is the responsibility of content owners (not web content editors).
III. Handling complaints
For copyright infringement notifications, contact the College DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) officer by mail or fax (not by e-mail):
Dr. Jay White, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
Washington & Jefferson College
60 South Lincoln Street
Washington PA 15301 USA
Fax: 724-223-2657
If W&J qualifies for the Internet Service Provider limits of liability under the DMCA, the DMCA officer may utilize notice and takedown procedures when receiving a notice from a copyright owner alleging an infringement. Content owners should be prepared to provide documentation of relevant release or permission in the case of an infringement notification. Content owners who have had material removed may pursue DMCA counter-notice and put-back procedures.
For more information: Copyright and DMCA