Skip to: Content
Skip to: Section Navigation
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

General Copyright

  • Federal Legislation
  • ALA Library Fact Sheet 7 - Video and Copyright
    ALA Library Fact Sheet giving guidelines on the use of videotapes in libraries (and classrooms), as well as links to the companies that sell public performance rights licenses.
  • Anti-Piracy Legislation
  • Statement of Carolyn L. barkley
    Statement of Carolyn L. Barkley, President, Virginia Library Associationbefore (JCOTS) December 7, 1999
  • Bi-Lateral Free Trade Agreements
    Bi-lateral free trade agreements form part of the web of international agreements that the U.S. makes with other nations in matters that relate to common trade or service issues. These treaties are part of U.S. policy to foster meaningful trade relationships throughout the world. In addition to the Free Trade Area of the Americas Agreement (FTAA), which is currently being negotiated, there are other FTAs in various stages of negotiation or conclusion by the U.S. Trade Representative.
  • Broadcast Flag
    Several years ago, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order that would have required that all digital electronic devices, such as television sets and personal computers, include code (known as the "broadcast flag") that accompanies digital television (DTV) signals to prevent redistribution of the digital content over the Internet. ALA was part of a successful suit against the FCC to stop the broadcast flag rule from going into effect in 2005. Having passed through the executive and judicial branches of government, this issue entwining law and technology has moved to the legislative branch.
  • Copyright - Washington Office
    The Digital Age presents new challenges to fundamental copyright doctrines that are legal cornerstones of library services. Libraries are leaders in trying to maintain a balance of power between copyright holders and users, in keeping with the fundamental principles outlined in the Constitution and carefully crafted over the past 200 years. In this role, we closely follow both federal and state legislation and make our voices heard when our issues are moving. Libraries are perceived as a voice for the public good and our participation is often sought in "friend of the court" briefs in important intellectual property cases. Our involvement extends to the international copyright arena where we also follow the treaties to which the U.S. is a signatory and which could influence the development of copyright changes at home.
  • Copyright 101
    Educational Materials from the 2006 Annual Conference
  • Copyright Articles
    articles relating to copyright issues
  • Copyright Legislative Agenda
    Information from the ALA Copyright Legislative Agenda
  • Copyright Court Cases
  • Copyright Issues
    PowerPoint presentation on copyright issues for youth services librarians, presented at the ALSC "Who Owns Snow White" conference program held in Orlando, June 2004.
  • Copyright Legislative Agenda - Negative Legislation
    Information describing older, more negative copyright legislation
  • Copyright Legislative Agenda - Additional Links
    Links and information pertaining to several copyright bills introduced in previous Congressional sessions
  • Copyright Term Extension Act Brief
    a short guide to the Copyright Term Extension Act
  • Dastar Corp v. Twentieth Century Fox Fim Corp
    Details of the Dastar Corp v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp Court Case
  • Duration of Copyright Protection
    Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act and it effect
  • Eldred v. Ashcroft
    Details on the Supreme Court Case Eldred v. Ashcroft
  • Free Trade Area of the Americas
  • UCITA Archived News
    UCITA archived news and headlines
  • Libraries and Licensing
    A continuing issue for ALA in the past few years relates to licensing. License agreements, rather than outright sales, have become an accepted and prevalent means for publishers to provide their products to libraries. And although licensing has proven to be a convenient way to obtain journals, for example, license terms can expand -- or restrict -- the uses of a work that would have been allowed under the copyright law
  • Libraries as Creatures of Copyright
    article by Carol Henderson on intellectual property law and policy
  • Resolution on the Uniform Information Transactions Act (UCITA)
    UCITA resolution, ALA CounDoc 20.1
  • Statement of James G. Neal
    James Neal's Feb '00 statement to MD legislature on UCITA.
  • The Publisher Over Your Shoulder
    article on copyright and fair use by Grant Painter
  • UCITA 101
    The basics on UCITA and it's potential impact on librares.
  • UCITA and Related Legislation in your State
    UCITA action by state.
  • UCITA Committee
  • UCITA Grassroots Toolkit
    Tools to fight UCITA in your state.
  • UCITA Headlines
    UCITA news and events information.
  • UCITA Library
    UCITA documents and links
  • UCITA Library Amendments
    In 2002, NCCUSL approved a library exception to UCITA that has now become part of the version of UCITA that will be introduced in legislative sessions in 2003. The amendment allows the donation or transfer of computer software to a public library or public elementary or secondary school or from a consumer to another consumer, but only when a computer is donated with the software.
  • UCITA Related Flash Reports
    One page PDF summaries of UCITA news
  • UCITA's Impact on Libraries
    How UCITA could affect libraries, including ILL services.
  • UCITA: Problems with a Non-negotiated Contract
    The general rule is that a negotiated contract is not preempted by federal copyright law. Libraries and educational institutions routinely negotiate contracts, and spend billions of dollars each year, for software, books and other information products. Libraries work hard to ensure that under the license or contract terms they are able to make uses of the licensed materials (such as allowing copies to be made and making preservation copies) that the institutions would have available to them under federal copyright law.
  • Uniform Computer information Transaction Act (UCITA)
    This site details the problems with UCITA, tracks state by state legislative action, and gives you the tools to fight UCITA in your state.
  • Users' Rights in Copyright: An Interview with Ray Patterson
  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
    WIPO implements international copyright laws that implicate member nations such as the U.S. For example, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (The Berne Convention) established international standards for copyright protection that relates to libraries. WIPO members are currently debating the need for extending further copyright protection to expressions of folklore.