Quick Navigation

Primary Page Content
Topic Navigation
Audience Navigation
NIU Global Links
NIU Search
Footer Information
Top of Page

Northern Illinois University

Media Services

MyNIU | A-Z Index | Calendar | Directory | NIU Home

Media Services Home > Resources > Legal Issues > Copyright and Fair Use > Media Duplication

Media Duplication

It is Media Services’ intention to stay within the guidelines of Copyright Law and Fair Use in all media productions including media duplication. Our policies are based on our interpretation of the laws, guidelines, and common practices regarding duplication services. Media Services does not provide legal advice for faculty, staff, or students. Please direct specific questions about copyright issues to NIU's Office of General Counsel at 815-753-8365. Media Services will not duplicate or reformat any copyrighted work without clearance from legal counsel. The responsibility for acquiring copyright clearance for duplication in any format rests with the client.

Please direct general inquiries regarding copyright law and media duplication to Jay Orbik, Director at 815-753-6670 and specific questions to NIU's Office of General Counsel at 815-753-8365.

Media Duplication and Copyright Law

Videotapes
Audiotapes
Slides

Chapter 1, Section 108 (1.1MB .PDF file) of the Copyright Law discusses the duplication of entire works of copyrighted media materials. This policy generally applies to libraries and archival institutions. It identifies several factors for determining legality including:

Whether the new format i.e. videotape, CD, or DVD, is available at a reasonable cost on the commercial market.
Whether the old display device, for example a film projector, is still available at a reasonable cost on the commercial market.
Whether the University Library has a copy of the old format in its collection.

What this means to Media Services and our clients

We will not duplicate entire copyrighted works into different formats as long as there are commercially available copies on the market. We can copy portions of copyrighted works and incorporate them into instructional multimedia formats under the provisions of Fair Use. Clients wishing to duplicate and/or change formats of entire copyrighted works must first contact the University Library to determine the availability of these works on the commercial market. Call David Lonergan, University Libraries at 815-753-9866 for information regarding the availability of films and videos in new formats.

Key Legal Documents

Consortium of College and University Media Centers (CCUMC) (182KB .PDF file) contains detailed information about how to safely use copyrighted materials in multimedia productions.
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (72KB .PDF file) has the latest developments in copyright as they apply to digital files.
'Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians,' (122KB .PDF file) U.S. Copyright Office's Circular No. 21, is a handy tool for accessing copyright information as it pertains to educators.

Other Helpful Links

The University of Texas System has an excellent online site for assisting faculty with Fair Use questions.

The U.S. Copyright Office is a reference for all US laws pertaining to copyright.

The Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. is a commercial entity dedicated to helping clients find the holders of copyright of existing media.