VCU Libraries is committed to educating the VCU community about copyright, fair use, intellectual property, and related issues affecting teaching, research and scholarship. These resources can help guide you in the responsible use of copyrighted works and encourage you to exercise your fair use rights.
Disclaimer: this website presents information about copyright law. VCU Libraries makes every effort to assure the accuracy of this information, but does not offer it as counsel or legal advice. For legal advice, please consult the Office of University Counsel.
The vast majority of the content you find online is protected by copyright. In fact, you interact with copyright every day—the music you listen to, the books you read, the videos you watch online. All of these works are protected by copyright, and copyright affects how you are able to use and share them.
Copyright is a type of intellectual property, which doesn't work quite the same way as physical property. For example, if you own a car, no one else can legally use it unless you grant them permission, and you don't have to grant permission to anyone. However, there are circumstances where copyrighted works can be used without the owner's permission. Knowing when and how you can use copyrighted works (and when and how you can't) helps you make the most out of the vast amount of knowledge and creative works available to you, as well as steer clear of legal troubles.
You also own many copyrights. Photos you take with your phone, papers you write for class, sometimes even text messages you send: all of these can receive copyright protection. As a copyright owner, you can take steps to protect your copyrighted works or to share your copyrighted works with others.
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