The information presented here is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.
The policy statements and guidelines outlined here serve as a guide for anyone affiliated with the University who wishes to copy, alter, or perform works that are protected by copyright. All members of the Mary Baldwin University community must comply with the provisions of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code, Sect. 101, et seq.) and related amendments. The information contained in this document is not a substitute for legal advice. It attempts to address the issues most likely to concern students, faculty, and staff. Members of the University community who disregard the current copyright policy do so at their own risk and assume all liability.
What is Copyright?
Copyright is a form of legal protection for authors of original works, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and other intellectual products. This protection applies to published and unpublished works, including those not registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. Copyrights usually last through the life of the author, plus seventy years. Section 106 of the Copyright Act (90 Stat 2541) generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to do and to authorize others to:
a. Reproduce copies of the work.
b. Prepare derivative works based on the copyrighted work.
c. Distribute copies of the work by sale, rental, lease, or lending.
d. Publicly perform the work.
e. Publicly display the work.
Works no longer need to be registered with the Copyright Office to be officially copyrighted.
Phone: 540-887-7085
Text: 540-300-4622
Email: ask@marybaldwin.edu