Using Copyright and Licensed Content

Obtaining Permissions

If the intended use does not come under “fair use” of the copyright law, library will secure permissions from the copyright owner. Following information is needed to obtain permissions. Please check fair use evaluator at http://librarycopyright.net/resources/fairuse/ ¹ or framework for analyzing fair use. 

• a complete description of the material that you want to use including the citation, page numbers, and how much you want to use
• explain how you want to use the material and  how important or relevant it is to include this information as part of your research
• include how many times or how often the material will be used, the form of distribution, and whether the material will be sold
• include a signature line for the copyright holder to sign, signifying that permission has been granted
• be direct and concise
• send out early with regular reminders

If the copyright holder can't be located or is unresponsive (or if you are unwilling to pay a license fee), be prepared to use a limited amount that qualifies for fair use, or use alternative material.

Please do remember that you don’t need to request permission if:

• your use is within Fair Use and you have made that determination
• the work is not protected by copyright
• your use is within the terms of a license agreement, such as a Creative Commons license

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This resource pack has been created to provide general, practical guidance on copyright matters and cannot be relied upon as a comprehensive legal obligation of individuals on copyright nor a substitute for advice for particular cases or situations. Users are encouraged to seek help by sending an email to librarian@iimb.ac.in