Under U.S. and international law, creative works ranging from a postcard to a grocery list are protected as intellectual property or copyrighted material. These rights apply regardless of format, whether it is digital, printed or audio, and distribution scope, be it private or public.
Owning a physical copy does not grant rights to reproduce, distribute or publicly share that content. Individual authors hold enforceable rights, and infringement exposes individuals to legal action or disciplinary measures.
The University of 亚洲影院 Sy蝉迟别尘鈥檚 Intellectual Property &鈥疌opyright Policy ensures balanced protection for creators and compliance for users.
By adhering to these policies and leveraging available resources, UM System faculty, staff and students can share and develop materials responsibly while avoiding infringement issues.
Resources for Legal Use of Intellectual Property
The University of 亚洲影院 provides resources to help authors and publishers meet their goals while respecting intellectual property rights. It is important to understand that copyright infringement may lead to lawsuits or require the removal of unauthorized material. When sharing student work online, be aware that both copyright laws and FERPA privacy regulations may apply.
Responsible use of copyrighted materials includes requesting permission when needed, applying fair use correctly and choosing alternatives that are legally easier to use, such as works in the public domain or U.S. government publications. Writers should also continue to follow standard academic practices for citation and acknowledgement.
Additional Resources:
Because copyright laws and technology continue to evolve, it is important to stay informed about current policies and best practices related to intellectual property.
Rules and Responsibilities for Online Intellectual Property
If you use University IT infrastructure to share or distribute materials, be aware that the University may be required to take down infringing content. Individuals are responsible for ensuring their use complies with copyright law and University policies.
Repeated misuse may trigger disciplinary processes and sanctions. Procedures are in place to handle take down notices, accept counterclaims and support appeals.
Service Provider Liability & the DMCA
Service Provider Liability & the DMCA
The limits the liability of service providers 鈥 such as the University of 亚洲影院 System 鈥 when users (including employees, students and guests) post copyrighted material without permission. To qualify for this legal protection, known as 鈥渟afe harbor,鈥 service providers must:
- Designate and register a DMCA agent with the and clearly display that contact information on their website.
- Notify users of policies that allow for terminating access for repeat copyright offenders.
- Promptly remove or disable access to content after receiving a valid infringement notice.
- Provide a process for counter鈥憂otices and the possible reinstatement of removed content.
Within the UM System, all campus web servers must include a link to the central DMCA agent contact page.