LibGuides: Student Copyright Guide: Photocopying/scanning (2024)

FAQs

Can I photocopy a book for my students? ›

But even copyrighted materials may be photocopied without permission from, or payment to, the copyright owner, if it is a “fair use,” a doctrine recognized by American courts for nearly a century and a half whose principal purpose is to protect the public interest in the dissemination of knowledge.

A copier creates new paper copies from an original paper source and can be done without being connected to a computer. A scanner, on the other hand, can create a digital version of an original paper document—and most models require a computer or USB connection.

There are no defined limits, but the amount that may be copied is usually accepted to be: One complete chapter or extracts of up to 5 % of a book , whichever is greater. One article from an issue of a journal or a periodical (e.g. a newspaper).

Copying includes printing, photocopying and similar methods of mechanical duplication. It is not permissible to reproduce copyrighted materials without the written authorization of the copyright holder unless it qualifies under the copyright law's doctrine of "fair use."

Fair use. Where scanning in-copyright print materials is required for teaching, it can be done freely without permission if it is a fair use. Fair use is a limitation on copyright favoring socially beneficial uses, including education.

Photocopying by Students

For students, a single photocopy of part of a copyrighted work, such as a copy of an article from a scientific journal made for research, would likely be considered fair use.

Scanning or photocopying will make a copy of a document, that is true. However, there are significant differences. Photocopying involves making more paper, the copy of the original document will be of lesser quality and eventually there may be a copy of the actual copy and you know for sure it will be even more faded.

Can I use scanned documents as legal evidence in court? - Quora. Depends on what they are. However, most documents provided in evidence in most courts are scanned, so that the various parties can see them. Note that, because some people try to fraudulently change documents, anyone can ask to see the original documents.

In most cases, a document signed by hand is considered to be the original. Should you then scan that document, its digital version becomes the copy of the original.

Is it illegal to scan a book to PDF? ›

It depends on what you intend to do with the digitized copy. It's perfectly legal for you to scan a book for personal use and fair use, in the US, and even to give a copy to a friend. But unauthorized distribution is illegal.

Reproduction of a copyright work without the permission of the rights holder is an infringement of copyright. However, a “fair dealing” in the case of reproduction for the purposes of research or private study is not an infringement.

a short story, short essay or short poem, whether or not from a collective work; a chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture from a book, periodical or newspaper.

A single copy may be made of any of the following at the individual request of any teacher or scholar for use in research or teaching: A chapter from a book. An article from a periodical or newspaper. A short story, short essay, or short poem.

Use only that amount of the original work that is necessary to accomplish the educational purpose. The law does not specify a specific percentage of a copyrighted work that would be permissible as fair use, but guidelines suggest one chapter from a book, or one poem from a book of poems, or one article from a journal.

Generally, photocopying an entire book without permission is considered copyright infringement. Exceptions might exist for personal use, academic purposes, or under “fair use” or “fair dealing” provisions, but these are subject to interpretation and limits.

Individuals are prohibited from making copies of all or substantial parts of copyright protected works without the consent of the copyright owner. For this reason, someone who copies such works without the permission of the copyright owner may be in violation of the Copyright Act.

It depends on what you intend to do with the digitized copy. It's perfectly legal for you to scan a book for personal use and fair use, in the US, and even to give a copy to a friend.