The primary objective of copyright is not to reward the labor of authors, but “to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts.” Art[icle] I, § 8, cl[ause] 8 [of U.S. Constitution]... To this end, copyright assures authors the right to their original expression, but encourages others to build freely upon the ideas and information conveyed by a work.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, writing in Feist Publishing Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co. Inc., 499 U.S. 340, 349, 111 S. Ct. 1282, 113 L. Ed. 2d 358, 371-72 (1991).
Federal copyright laws (Title 17 United States Code) protect the rights of authors/owners of works while promoting the widespread dissemination of ideas in the arts and sciences. It is the policy of Ursuline College to abide by these laws and to maintain the highest possible ethical standards while using copyrighted materials for instructional purposes. While the College encourages its employees to enrich the learning process by making proper use of supplementary materials, the College expects all employees to comply with the copyright laws while doing so. It is not necessary for any employee of the College to violate copyright requirements in order to perform their duties properly. Thus, the College does not sanction or condone illegal duplication in any form, and any employee violating the College’s copyright policy or the copyright laws does so at her or his own risk and assumes all liability.
These policies provide guidance to the entire College community about permissible uses or copyrighted printed materials, computer software, and audio-visual materials.