Fair Use and Copyright at CU-Boulder

The University of Colorado at Boulder encourages the fair use of copyrighted materials in support of its academic and research mission, and strives to provide clear guidance to faculty, students, and staff who wish to use copyrighted materials in their teaching and research. Go to the university's copyright and fair use website.

The University of Colorado at Boulder community respects the intellectual property of others, regardless of the medium by which it is transmitted. This is a cornerstone of academic integrity. We prohibit the use of unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, which is subject to both civil and criminal penalties as well as university procedures.

Distributing copyrighted materials using peer-to-peer or file-sharing programs is illegal and the university uses technological solutions to deter this activity. Still, the university regularly receives notices of copyright violations and is required by law to take action. Common consequences include loss of network access and referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs. Guidance on campus fair use and copyright issues is provided at http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/copyright/.