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Copyright Guide for Students

When in Doubt...

A lot of journals, databases, (e)books or websites will have the copyright notice guidelines included somewhere in their work. The regulations of how you can or cannot use a work often depend on what it is being used for and where it originates. Copyright notices can often be confusing to interpret and full of jargon.

We are here to help! If you are unsure about the permissions of a given work the best thing to do is ASK. You can start by asking your Professor if they have any input in regards to your question and the assignment at hand. Or you can check the FAQs and general information contained in this guide. But if you still are unsure, then please ask us and we will do our best to give you all the relevant information in a timely fashion.

Send us an email with your question and be sure to include:

  • The title, and any publication information you have of the work in question
  • Your question
  • The intended use of the copy
  • The course you are completing the assignment for
  • Your contact information

*disclaimer: We are not offering legal advice, but can offer best practice advice for educational use.

Copyright Assistance at Saint Mary's

Please send any questions, comments or concerns to:

copyright@smu.ca

Disclaimer

Please note: This guide does not provide legal advice. It is intented to give guidance about acceptable use of copyright protected materials.