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Copyright Resources

Links to U.S. Copyright Office and other resources on the topics of Copyright, Fair Use, and Licensing.

For questions about copyright, fair use and faculty/staff ownership of works at NSU, contact NSU’s General Counsel at (757) 823-2293.

This guide is a collection of resources intended to help readers explore the topics of copyright, fair use, and licensing. No part of this guide should be considered legal advice.

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship as soon as an author fixes the work in a tangible form of expression. In copyright law, there are a lot of different types of works, including paintings, photographs, illustrations, musical compositions, sound recordings, computer programs, books, poems, blog posts, movies, architectural works, plays, and so much more!

U.S. Copyright Office

NSU Copyright Information Pages

Communication and Marketing - Social Media - Norfolk State University Copyright 101

"The Norfolk State University Communications and Marketing Office will provide information about best practices involving copyrighted material, but the decision to use them will be solely on the department making the request. If any University department chooses to use copyrighted materials, they will be responsible for any fines or legal consequences should the owner of these materials choose to sue the university for copyright infringement."

BOV Policy # 35 (2019) Intellectual Property Policy

"Norfolk State University (NSU) encourages and supports the intellectual pursuits, creative activities, and inventions of its faculty, employees and students. The results of these endeavors may be the subject of patent application(s), copyright(s), or other tangible material that is commonly referred to as “Intellectual Property.” As a state university of the Commonwealth of Virginia, NSU is required by the State to have an “Intellectual Property Policy” that covers these products."