Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Iowa City Public Library's Copyright Policy

ICPL Logo If you are looking for a good one-page copyright policy as a model for your library, check out the  Iowa City Public Library copyright policy.  What I like about this policy is that it acknowledges the rights both of copyright holders and users.  The library publicly states that it will look to use Fair Use (Title 17, Section 107) and Creative Commons when evaluating materials to use. 

4 comments:

Michael Sauers said...

814.3B - We take no responsibility.

814.3D - We will take the responsibility to make sure you take responsibility.

Huh?

Jill Hurst-Wahl said...

814.3.B says "The Library assumes neither liability nor responsibility for patrons’ actions."

8143.D says "Library materials are for personal use only unless public performance rights have been
obtained. Groups using playback equipment in the meeting rooms will be asked to sign a statement asserting that they have obtained permission from the copyright holder and/or that they indemnify the Library and hold it harmless for any potential violations."

When I read 814.3.D I see text around group use of playback equipment and meeting rooms, and a process to ensure that the group takes responsibility. Michael, are you seeing something different?

Michael Sauers said...

Those people using the equipment in the library are also patrons, so surely they're covered under B where is clearly says that the library assumes no responsibility for what a patron does with library materials. They then insert themselves between the material and the patron in a particular situation, which by my definition, asserts some responsibility, in this case, to make sure that the patron lies on a form since absolutely no patron will ever attempt to get permission from a copyright holder to show a DVD in the library's meeting room. Really, who would you call to get such permission?

Jason said...

Hi all, I'm a Librarian at ICPL and, although I didn't work on this policy, I can speak to 814.3.D in relation to your comments. We do actively ask groups to provide permission confirmation. Patrons may book a meeting room for showing a movie/audio recording but before the booking is granted we contact them with ways of finding copyright permission (usually it is an independent documentary and people contact the makers directly). People may also get one-time use from companies like Swank (http://www.swank.com/) if they are willing to pay. I guess I see it as an extension of 814.3C, in this case public performances instead of personal use somewhere in the building or using the equipment. There are possibly times that a group watches something illegally but we try to make an effort to have them follow copyright rules.