Copyright
Copyright is a form of intellectual property providing automatic legal protection against unauthorised reuse of original, protectable works. Copyright law gives owners of copyright-protected material exclusive rights to control reuse (copyright restrictions) and specifies limitations to those rights in certain circumstances (copyright exceptions).
Copyright subsists automatically in original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works (“authorial” works), and in sound recordings, films, broadcasts and published editions (“entrepreneurial” works).
Generally, only the copyright owner may undertake – or authorise others to undertake – acts restricted by copyright, including copying any substantial part of a protected work. The University holds licences permitting educational reuse of copyright-protected content from books, journals, broadcasts and other resources, subject to compliance with the licence terms.
The exclusive rights of copyright owners are limited in certain scenarios by the availability of copyright exceptions, also provided by law. Where applicable, exceptions enable some socially beneficial reuse of copyright-protected material to take place without the transaction costs associated with seeking or granting permission.
Whether reuse of a copyright work is permissible, under licence or exception, often depends on the nature of the material and purpose of the use. Therefore, navigating copyright issues generally requires consideration of the content, context and constraints.
University communities are prolific producers and consumers of copyright works. Staff and students must understand their rights, and those of third party copyright owners, to ensure compliance with applicable policies, licences, and the law.
These pages cover key considerations relating to the creation and reuse of copyright works in the course of teaching and research. Further information and guidance may be obtained by contacting the Copyright & Compliance Officer, who welcomes comments and queries from the University of Reading community.