Guides

We create guides to help you navigate copyright in your research, teaching, and scholarship.

Learn the basics

  1. Copyright Basics

    Information about U.S. copyright law, including rights of users, permission, and the public domain.

  2. Learn about copyright concepts and considerations through our scenarios.

  3. Illustrates the "substantial similarity" doctrine from U.S. copyright law, using a set of case summaries.

Find usable content

  1. Resource for faculty, staff, and students to learn where to find content they can easily use, remix, and share without worrying about copyright restrictions.

  2. Information about Creative Commons licenses, which allow you to share, reuse, and remix images, video, music, and other content.

Use content responsibly

  1. Explains how to find copyright holders and get permission to use different copyrighted works.

  2. Answers to common questions about copyright and course websites, including when and how materials can be posted on Canvas.

  3. When and how copyright affects use of videos in classrooms.

  4. Answers to common copyright questions that come up when working on a dissertation, including using others' content and publishing.

Publish your work

  1. Information about journals, books, and open access for authors looking to publish scholarly works.

  2. What open access is, a list of APC discounts, answers to frequently asked questions, and information about how to make your work open access.

Questions? Contact the Library Copyright Office at copyright@umich.edu.

University of Michigan Library

Our community

Privacy and copyright

Library Privacy Statement

Except where otherwise noted, this work is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. For details and exceptions, see the Library Copyright Policy.

Federal Depository Library Program