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Open Educational Resources

Open Author is used for building and publishing Open Educational Resources (OER) for the benefit of educators and learners everywhere.

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S.Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works.

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

General Online Guides to Copyright


Fair Use

A limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders. Examples of fair use include commentary, search engines, criticism, parody, news reporting, research, teaching, library archiving and scholarship.


Getting Permission to Use Materials Under Copyright


Copyright Organizations