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Copyright: Requesting Permission

This guide provides an introduction to copyright.

Who Should I Contact?

Major musicians are represented in the US by a performance rights organizations (PRO).

Lee College has blanket licenses with (ASCAP), (BMI) and SESAC allowing for performances of works in their repertoires on campus and at certain college-sponsored events, but these blanket licenses do not include the right to use the works in dramatic settings, such as the theater productions. You would need a separate license to perform a work in a dramatic setting on campus. For questions about Lee Colleges blanket licenses, contact Sandra Brown.

When Copyright Permission is Needed

Follow these steps to determine whether you need to get copyright permission in order to reproduce, distribute, modify, display, or perform a particular work.

Follow these steps to determine whether you need to get copyright permission in order to reproduce, distribute, modify, display, or perform a particular work.

1. Is the work subject to a license agreement? Check the item and any accompanying documentation.

2. If the work is not subject to a license agreement, is it in the public domain. Use the Digital Copyright Slider to determine when works pass into public domain. Works in the public domain have no restrictions.

3. If the work is not in the public domain, has permission for your intended use already been granted by the copyright owner?

  • If you wish to use an article found in one of the library databases, permission is granted and you may post the link in Blackboard.
  •  If you wish to post a journal article in Blackboard, for example, check the copyright page of the journal issue/volume, or the publisher’s website, to see if the publisher has already granted permission for educational uses such as this.

If you are the author of a journal article visit https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/ to determine whether the publisher automatically grants permission for your use. Please also refer to Lee College Policy for Intellectual Property.

4. If the work is not in the public domain, is your intended use justified by Fair Use?  Materials used for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research do not infringe on copyrights. See the Fair Use Checklist.