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Copyright Guidelines & FAQ's

Copyright Information

FastPrint is committed to supporting the CSU community by providing professional printing services that comply with U.S. copyright law. To help faculty, staff, and students navigate their responsibilities when submitting materials, this page offers essential copyright information and outlines FastPrint’s policies regarding reproduced content.

This page includes frequently asked questions about copyright, summarized from the U.S. Copyright Office’s official guidance, and outlines FastPrint’s role in assisting with copyright clearance for lab manuals and course packets. It also explains the steps you must take to ensure your submitted materials meet legal requirements.

When submitting a print order through FastPrint, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and agree to our Copyright Responsibility Acknowledgment. This acknowledgment affirms that:

  • You are the copyright owner or have obtained the necessary permissions to reproduce the materials;
  • FastPrint does not verify or assume responsibility for copyright compliance;
  • You accept full legal responsibility for the content you submit.

We encourage you to review the information provided and reach out to the Copyright & Scholarly Communications Librarian at CSU Libraries if you need help identifying permissions or understanding your rights.  CSU Libraries does not provide copyright clearance. 

For orders involving lab manuals or course packets, FastPrint may assist with copyright clearance through the Copyright Clearance Center. To learn more about this process and related requirements, please visit our Lab Manual and Course Packets page.

Copyright FAQ's

Quick Links

What is copyright?

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17, US. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship” that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. An original work of authorship is a work that is independently created by a human author and possesses at least some minimal degree of creativity. A work is “fixed” when it is captured (either by or under the authority of an author) in a sufficiently permanent medium such that the work can be perceived, reproduced, or communicated for more than a short time. Copyright protection in the United States exists automatically from the moment the original work of authorship is fixed. Source: U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, Copyright Basics.

What works are protected?

Examples of copyrightable works include

  • Literary works
  • Musical works, including any accompanying words
  • Dramatic works, including any accompanying music
  • Pantomimes and choreographic works
  • Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
  • Motion pictures and other audiovisual works
  • Sound recordings, which are works that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds
  • Architectural works

Source: U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, Copyright Basics.

What are the rights of a copyright owner?

Copyright provides the owner of copyright with the exclusive right to

  • Reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords
  • Prepare derivative works based upon the work
  • Distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of owner­ship or by rental, lease, or lending
  • Perform the work publicly if it is a literary, musical, dramatic, or choreographic work; a panto­mime; or a motion picture or other audiovisual work
  • Display the work publicly if it is a literary, musical, dramatic, or choreographic work; a pan­tomime; or a pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work. This right also applies to the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work.
  • Perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission if the work is a sound recording

Source: U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, Copyright Basics.

What is NOT protected by Copyright?

Copyright does not protect

  • Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes, concepts, principles, or discoveries
  • Works that are not fixed in a tangible form (such as a choreographic work that has not been notated or recorded or an improvisational speech that has not been written down)
  • Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans
  • Familiar symbols or designs
  • Mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring
  • Mere listings of ingredients or contents

For more information, see Works Not Protected by Copyright (Circular 33).
Source: U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, Copyright Basics.

How long does the copyright last?

In general, for works created on or after January 1, 1978, the term of copyright is the life of the author plus seventy years after the author’s death. If the work is a joint work with multiple authors, the term lasts for seventy years after the last surviving author’s death. For works made for hire and anonymous or pseudonymous works, the duration of copyright is 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

For more information on the term of copyright protection, see Duration of Copyright (Circular 15A) and Renewal of Copyright (Circular 6A). Source: U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, Copyright Basics.

Who owns the copyright?

In general, copyright is owned by the creator of the work, the person who authors the content, whether it’s writing, artwork, software, or other original material. However, ownership can vary depending on circumstances such as employment, contracts, or institutional policies.

At the university level, ownership depends on who created the work and under what conditions. At Colorado State University (CSU), the following applies:

  • Students: Copyright in work created by students, such as papers, projects, theses, and dissertations typically belong to the student, even when developed with input from CSU faculty or use of university resources. If the student’s work is to be reproduced, modified, or included in other publications, written permission from the student must be obtained.
  • Faculty and Staff: Copyright in works created by CSU employees as part of their official duties, or using university resources, is owned by the University. Acceptance of the terms of the Colorado State University policy on Rights and Responsibilities Related to Creative Works is a condition of employment for all University employees. The policy states that academic materials, publications, technical discoveries, invention, and other creative works of commercial importance resulting from the teaching, service, and research or investigation, conducted by University employees with the support of University resources shall become the property of the University or its designee.

For more information, refer to the full CSU Policy: Intellectual Property—Copyrights and Patents or consult Section J of the CSU Faculty/Staff Manual. Additional guidance for investigators in sponsored programs is set forth in Section XI of the Principal Investigators’ Manual by the Office of Sponsored Programs

How can I use a copyrighted work?

When deciding to use a work protected by copyright, the general rule is to seek permission from the copyright owner. Under the copyright law, a copyright owner may authorize activities that fall under the exclusive rights of copyright. Source: U.S. Copyright Office Circular 1, Copyright Basics.

If you are printing course materials through our Lab Manual and Course Packet Order Form, FastPrint can attempt to obtain clearance for you through the Copyright Clearance Center.  If FastPrint cannot obtain clearance from the Copyright Clearance Center, we refer the clearance back to the requestor to obtain the rights.  Until rights are obtained, the course materials cannot be printed.   For more information on seeking permission to use a copyrighted work, see How to Obtain Permission (Circular 16A). The Copyright & Scholarly Communications Librarian at CSU Libraries can assist you with how you might research the needed clearances.  CSU Libraries does not provide copyright clearance.

If you are printing through our FastPrint Order Form, you will acknowledge at time of submission that you agree to our Copyright Responsibility Acknowledgment, which states the following:

  • I affirm that I am the copyright owner of the material submitted or that I have obtained all necessary permissions, licenses, or other legal rights to authorize the reproduction of the submitted materials.
  • I understand and acknowledge that FastPrint does not assume responsibility for verifying copyright ownership or reproduction rights of submitted materials.
  • I assume full legal responsibility for any infringement or unauthorized use that may arise from the reproduction of the submitted materials.

How does copyright law apply to Colorado State University faculty and staff?

CSU faculty and staff are responsible for ensuring that any use of copyrighted materials complies with U.S. copyright law. While Fair Use may apply in some academic settings, it’s not automatic and must be evaluated carefully.

Reproducing or distributing copyrighted content, whether by photocopying, scanning, or sharing digitally, often requires permission from the copyright holder. Colorado State University employees have the responsibility when utilizing copyrighted materials to determine whether their use of the copyrighted materials would violate any copyright held by the author, or whether it would be considered fair use.

If you’re unsure whether your use qualifies as Fair Use, consult the Copyright & Scholarly Communications Librarian for guidance.

What is Fair Use?

Fair Use allows limited use of copyrighted material without needing permission from the copyright owner, but only under certain conditions.

Examples of potential fair use include using small portions of a work for things like:

  • Teaching and instruction
  • Criticism or commentary
  • Research or scholarship
  • News reporting

Whether a use qualifies as “fair” depends on four key factors:

  1. Purpose — Is the use educational or commercial?
  2. Nature — Is the work more factual or creative?
  3. Amount — How much of the original work is used?
  4. Effect — Does the use impact the market value of the original work?

Fair use is not a blanket rule, it must be evaluated case by case. When in doubt, it’s best to seek permission or guidance.

For more information and tools to help you determine fair use, please visit CSU Libraries’ Fair Use resource page.

You can also reach out to the Copyright & Scholarly Communications Librarian for assistance.

Does CSU Libraries provide copyright clearance?

CSU Libraries does not provide copyright clearance.  You can contact the Copyright & Scholarly Communications Librarian at CSU Libraries with any further questions you might have.