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Copyright for Graduate and Research Students: Do I need permission?

This guide is for graduate and research students. It is intended to be your first step towards learning more about copyright during your research and publication journey.

Quick tips

Note:  Obtaining permission should not be the first step.  In fact, when solving a copyright problem, it is best to follow these steps:

  1. Determine whether the work is indeed protected by copyright (is it in the public domain, i.e. the copyright duration has expired?);
  2. Determine whether an exception to copyright applies;
  3. Determine whether there is a valid argument for fair use;
  4. If the work is protected by copyright, there are no exceptions and fair use does not apply, seek permission to use the work.