Commitment to Respecting Creators' Rights

WAC Clearinghouse publications frequently make use of copyrighted work, such as direct quotes, images (photos, data visualizations, etc.), and audio clips. The use of copyrighted work in WAC Clearinghouse publications requires either adherence to fair use standards or, if fair use does not apply, documented permission from the rights holder. In either case, copyrighted work should be cited in text or in a footnote and the original source included in any works cited list, references list, or bibliography. The only exceptions to this requirement include the use of work for which the author or editor of the published material holds the rights, in which case no permission is required, as well as certain licenses granting permission for reuse (e.g., Creative Commons licenses). In such cases, the original work should nonetheless be cited and included in any works cited list, references list, or bibliography.

Authors must obtain permission to use copyrighted work when fair use does not apply. This requirement applies to all forms of published work that can be inserted into a document or media item, including textual material (including computer code) and images, audio, and video available in digital formats. Links to material available online—such as web pages, photographs, charts, videos, music, and podcasts—do not require permission. Embedded items may require permission. Authors and editors are encouraged to review usage policies or licenses for such items or, if explicit usage guidance is not provided, to contact the rights holder for guidance.

Guidance on seeking permission for use of copyrighted materials can be found on the web. Particularly useful sites include:

• U.S. Copyright Office: What is Copyright? (https://www.copyright.gov/what-is-copyright/)  
• Stanford Libraries Copyright & Fair Use Center Website (https://fairuse.stanford.edu/)
• Harvard University Office of the General Counsel: Copyright and Fair Use  (https://ogc.harvard.edu/pages/copyright-and-fair-use)
• Super Lawyers: When Do I Need Permission To Use a Copyrighted Work? (https://www.superlawyers.com/resources/intellectual-property/when-do-i-need-permission-to-use-a-copyrighted-work/)
• University of Michigan Library: Obtaining Copyright Permissions (https://guides.lib.umich.edu/permissions)
• Creative Commons (https://creativecommons.org/)

In some cases, the rightsholder may not be easily identifiable.  The Clearinghouse recommends contacting the author or publisher of the material you seek to use. If you do not receive a response, it may be useful to consult the Copyright Clearance Center (https://www.copyright.com/) to determine whether it manages the rights to those materials.

Documentation of permissions to use copyrighted materials in a publication should be obtained by the author or editor of the published work and should be provided to the editors of the book series, journal, or resource venue in which the publication appears.