Key Concepts: Licensing
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Copyright holders sometimes license their work, rather than simply selling copies of it. |
Licenses impose extra conditions and restrictions on the buyer. These licenses supersede copyright. So, there may some things you can't do with licensed works that would be acceptable if you had bought the work. Licenses can restrict whether you can make copies of the work or whether you can give someone access to it. If you are dealing with a licensed work, investigate and make sure your use agrees with the license.
- Software is often licensed. If you purchase software with a license that allows it to be loaded on four computers, you are violating the license if you load it on six computers.
- Online databases, like ProQuest, are usually licensed content. Libraries purchase access to these for students and faculty for study, teaching and research. Any other use may - not always, but may - violate the license. The fact that online databases are licensed affects how they are used in online classes. We'll talk about that later.
Next, we'll talk about Fair Use.
August15, 2011