Copyright Home
Audio recordings
Computer Software
Coursepacks
Course Reserves
Fair Use Doctrine
Resources by Subject
Obtaining Permissions
Photocopies
Visual Images
Webpages
Resources on the Web
Back Home

Web pages

This section addresses the appropriate uses of material you find on the Internet.

Because you are able to view, download, or print text and graphics does not mean that the material is unprotected. Nor does it mean that you are free to disseminate that work to others either electronically or in hard copy.


You may:

  • download information from the Web for your personal use if it falls within the Fair Use Doctrine. Downloading information is considered to be the same as making a copy.

  • generally download or print information from a commercial database if it is for your personal use.

  • place your original text, graphics, audio, or video on your web page.

  • provide links on your web page to other sites.

  • use frames only if you make clear when someone leaves your web page. Otherwise, you may be presenting other's work as your own.

You should not:

  • download information from the Internet or Web and pass electronic or hard copies to others without permission unless the copyright has expired.

  • use without permission any images, motion media, or music created by others digitally or in hardcopy unless the copyright has expired.

  • use logos or trademarks on a web page without permission. Instead, use words and point to the appropriate URL.

  • copy an entire list to your web page- it probably is a copyright violation because such lists may be copyrightable under a compilation copyright. 

^ back to the top

March 1, 2001

Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, 540-375-2500 webadmin@roanoke.edu