Penalties for copyright infringement may potentially be very costly for the individual and the University. An award of up to $150,000 for each act of willful infringement may be levied. When in doubt regarding the use of materials, seek copyright permission.
Printed and online items often contain copyright notices that provide information regarding materials use and permissions. These notices may indicate special rights for educational use, provide general guidelines, or present information on how to contact the owner to obtain permission. If a web page does not contain a copyright notice, send an e-mail using an appropriate mail link on the site and ask for permission to use the item. If the material is not online and no Web site can be found to expedite the permission process, it will be necessary to send the copyright owner (or if that is not known, the publisher) a letter to request permission to use the material.
For assistance in seeking permissions from copyright holders, please submit a permissions request and contact the Intellectual Property Rights Specialist.