Drexel University contracts with a variety of vendors and publishers to provide users with thousands of electronic resources (databases, eBooks, eJournals, etc.) paid for by Drexel University Libraries.
In addition to paying for these resources, the Libraries typically negotiate license agreements that stipulate how and by whom they may be used. If license terms are violated, licensors usually have the right to temporarily suspend access for the entire university community. In some cases, licenses can be permanently revoked.
You can help prevent problems with our electronic resource providers by adhering to "good practice" and avoiding improper use.
Here are some good rules of thumb:
|
ACCEPTABLE
|
NOT ACCEPTABLE
|
| making limited print or electronic copies (such as single articles) | systematic or substantial printing, copying or downloading (such as entire journal issues or books) |
| using for personal, instructional or research needs | selling or re-distributing content, or providing it to an employer (this includes a co-op employer) |
| sharing with current Drexel faculty, staff and students | sharing with people other than current Drexel faculty, staff and students |
| posting links to specific content | posting actual content or articles to web sites or listservs |
| modifying, altering, or creating derivative works |
***Always acknowledge your source on any published or unpublished document when you use data found on electronic resources.***
GREY AREAS
Some resources allow inclusion for electronic reserves, course packs, and multiple copies for classroom use and interlibrary lending. Others explicitly forbid one or more of these activities.
Sharing with non-Drexel users: This means peer-to-peer informal sharing for research, teaching and educational purposes. For example, if you are working with a colleague at another institution, and wish to make him/her aware of an article of mutual interest, you may send that article in print or electronically if this use is "allowed". Some publishers do not allow sharing with non-Drexel users, and only allow this activity with other authorized users within the Drexel community.
Course Reserves: Most electronic resources may be used for print or electronic reserves. Reserves, both print and electronic, need to be secured, and not made available on the open web. See Drexel Course Reserves for reserved materials.
Course Packs: Some electronic resources allow for limited portions, such as a single articles from a journal, to be reproduced and provided to students in a course pack. In nearly all cases, course packs must be provided on a cost recovery basis only, and not sold for profit. If "Course packs not allowed" is indicated, then the material needs to have copyright cleared with the publisher before proceeding with inclusion in a course pack.
Access
Copyright and Licensing Restrictions
Copyright notice for Course Reserves
Pursuant to the federal Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code), it is preemptively unlawful to reproduce, distribute, or publicly display any copyrighted work (or any substantial portion thereof) without the permission of the copyright owner. The statute, however, recognizes a fair use defense that has the effect of excusing an act of copyright infringement. It is the intention of the Library to act within the parameters of the fair use defense in allowing limited posting of copyrighted materials in Electronic Course Reserve areas such as this one. It is the intention of the Library, moreover, that such materials be made available solely for the purposes of private study, scholarship, and research, and that any further reproduction of such materials by students, by printing or downloading, be limited to such purposes. Any further reproduction of copyrighted materials made from this computer system may be in violation of copyright laws and is prohibited.
Content Editor: Bill Paterson
Last Updated: 01/18/2012
