Copyright, like patent law, is exclusionary, but rather than ideas, it applies to the use of "original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible form of expression." A central tenet of copyright is that authors should have the right to reasonably control the use of their creative output and to receive appropriate recognition for their contribution. Copyright exists upon the creation of an eligible work—you do not have to do anything to obtain it.

For more on what can and can't be protected by copyright, watch this video from The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property: 

Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property: Can I Copyright That? from Michelson 20MM Foundation on Vimeo.

If you are considering creating or have created a copyrighted work (book, manual, software, video, photographs, etc.) in the course of your academic research and wish to discuss your goals for the use of the material, the staff at Innovation Partners are available to help you explore the available options. For more on copyright management, see our Copyright Basics and Best Practices guide with tips for university faculty authors.

We also provide a number of useful tools to help UO authors manage and distribute copyrighted works. Check out our Echelon: PI platform to manage your project's work proactively. And when you're finished writing your work, UO Digital Press can distribute UO works on the Apple app store, on Google Play or through Amazon. Contact us to learn more. 

Creating a license or simple permission for the use of copyrighted work is a way to reserve rights and grant permissions consistent with how you want your work to be used or modified. It is important, however, to be aware of "fair use" if your work is used without a license, or if you wish to use someone else's copyrighted works. For more on fair use and infringement, watch these videos from The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property: 

Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property: Is It Fair Use or Infringement? from Michelson 20MM Foundation on Vimeo.

Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property: What If Someone Infringes Your Copyright? from Michelson 20MM Foundation on Vimeo.

You may be surprised to learn who actually owns a particular work, especially if the work is created under an employment or services contract and/or more than one person contributes to creation. In order to better understand whether you own a work, if it is jointly owned, owned by the UO, or owned by some other entity, it is important to be familiar with Work for Hire and Joint Ownership principles. For more information on these doctrines and how they effect what you can and can't do with a particular work, please watch the following video from the The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property:

Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property: Entrepreneur's Guide to IP: Joint Authorship and Work for Hire Agreements from Michelson 20MM Foundation on Vimeo.

Another helpful resource is the Creative Commons website, which has a number of short videos that explain the utility of licenses for copyrighted material. The Stanford University and the University of Chicago websites also provide extensive reviews and discussion of copyright issues. The Printing and Mailing Services can assist with copyright questions related to course materials.