Students

Copyright essentials: A foundation for informed use

Copyright law serves as a cornerstone of intellectual property protection, granting creators exclusive rights over their works. These rights empower creators to control the reproduction, distribution, adaptation, and public performance of their works. By understanding the scope of copyright protection, you can make informed decisions about the use of copyrighted materials. Each country has their own sets and regulations when it comes to copyright protection. In the UK copyright law is set out in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Copyright basics covers everything you need to know about copyright law.

Copyright in studying and the use of library resources

Whilst at University, you will have access to different resources through the library or through the LEARN portal as well as through your reading lists. The Library pays for licenses that enable you to access online materials, like ebooks and journal articles. As a student you can download and print a limited amount of these materials. You are limited to printing one chapter of a book or one journal article from a journal issue. Please do keep to these restrictions.

You are not allowed by law, to share these resources with anyone outside the University who does not have access to these resources, unless the articles, chapters or books are shared under a Creative Commons license.  

Copyright and accessible copies of resources

UK law makes provisions for the creation of accessible copies to any disabled student. The requirements for this are as follows:

• Making Braille, audio or large-print copies of books, newspapers or magazines for visually impaired people;
• Adding audio-description to films or broadcasts for visually impaired people;
• Making subtitled films or broadcasts for deaf or hard of hearing people;
• Making accessible copies of books, newspapers or magazines for dyslexic people.

A record needs to be kept for any material that has been made accessible under this exception.

You can find further information on exceptions to copyright law for disabled people and changes to copyright law due to the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty.

Students can register with SWAI (Student Wellbeing and Inclusion) who will arrange for access to suitable material in alternative formats for their study.  

There is also information available on the library webpages for accessibility support. Users can contact the Content and Provision team for further information.  

Dealing with copyrighted material in your assignments

• Copyrighted material - Gov.uk

As students engaged in writing essays, reports and design, you are likely to encounter copyrighted materials in various forms. Understanding copyright considerations in use for assignments is crucial for ensuring ethical and compliant practices:

• Copyright ownership in assignments: Students following taught programmes of study will normally retain ownership of intellectual property where they can demonstrate that they have developed it in the course of their studies or through use of University facilities.
• Copyright consideration in assessments and assignments: There are exceptions within copyright law which will allow you to use copyrighted material for the purpose of quotation, criticism and review. You will need to deal fairly with the material you use. You can find out more about exceptions, in the copyright basics section.
• Ethical use of copyrighted materials in assignments: Always cite copyrighted materials appropriately and adhere to fair dealing guidelines when incorporating them into your assignment. If using AI tolls in your assignments, please follow the University's guidelines for Generative AI use in assessments.
• Copyright material for design and decoration purposes: Using copyright material for decoration purposes will not cover you under the exceptions. For decoration or design purposes please use material which is in the public domain (copyright has expired or has been relinquished) or material which is under a Creative Commons license. You can find such material in our Sourcing materials section.

Sharing copyright material in a digital world

It is becoming more and more easier to share copyright material. However, please remember that the University holds the copyright in teaching material produced by lecturers or other University staff. You are not allowed to share or sell materials such as: lecture slides, recordings, handouts, or exam questions with people outside the University. That would be copyright infringement.

Same applies to journal articles or books from the Library. The University pays for licenses to publishers to allow students to access all the material they need for studying. This material is protected by copyright so please do not share with anyone outside the University. If the chapter, ebook or journal article is under a Creative Commons license it can be shared.

If you consider sharing material online, always share the link towards someone’s article, blog post or social media channels and websites. This reduces the risk of infringement. As linking content is not considered copyright infringement, care should still be taken when sharing. Make sure that it is a legitimate source, and it doesn’t deal in illegal or pirated material. This doesn’t just stop any copyright infringement but will also help with online security.

Copyright in creative works: Protecting your original expressions

As students, you may create original works of art, music, literature, or other creative expressions. Understanding copyright law empowers you to protect your intellectual property:

• Copyright ownership in creative works: Generally, the copyright in creative works belongs to the creator of the work.

If you are a student following a taught programme of study, you will normally retain ownership of intellectual property where you can demonstrate that you have developed it in the course of your studies or using University facilities. For ownership to be assigned to you, it must be clear that the intellectual property derives from your own work with due regard being given to contribution from staff members, other students and any external partners.

1. Where the student is sponsored by an outside body, any conditions of the sponsorship relating to intellectual property developed in the period of the sponsorship.
2. Where the project is fully or partially externally funded, any conditions of the contract with the University relating to intellectual property developed in the course of the project.

Please refer to the University's 'Ordinance XXXIX on Ownership and Commercial Exploitation of Intellectual Property'.

• Copyright ownership during employment: UK law states that any material created during the contract of employment, will be copyrighted to the employer. Any material made outside normal working ours, the copyright will belong to the creator.

Licensing and permissions: Consider licensing your creative works to others for commercial or non-commercial use, and grant permissions responsibly. You can find our more about the different licenses available in our licenses section.

• Protecting your copyright online: Be mindful of copyright infringement when sharing your creative works online and use copyright notices and takedown procedures to protect your rights.

More information about copyright and some useful training resources can be found in the Self-guided training section of the copyright website.

Copyright law serves as a crucial tool for safeguarding the rights of creators while fostering a vibrant intellectual ecosystem. As Higher Education students, you play a vital role in upholding copyright principles, ensuring that your academic endeavours are conducted ethically and responsibly. By understanding copyright fundamentals, navigating fair dealing exceptions, and respecting the intellectual property of others, you contribute to a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing. Embark on your journey of copyright literacy and become a responsible and knowledgeable user of copyrighted materials.