Thesis Office
Copyright Information and Resources
- Thesis Requirement for Copyright Permission from Others
- Your Copyright and You
- Using Previously Copyrighted Material in Your Thesis
- Additional Resources
Thesis Requirement for Copyright Permission from Others
As the Graduate College prepares for the implementation of electronic thesis deposit (ETD), we want to create a process that safeguards students' interests in their work while protecting them from legal liabilities that might arise from their use of previously copyrighted material, where such copyright is held by others, in their theses and dissertations. The dissemination of student research through electronic means engenders the thrilling potential for that work to reach a much wider audience than with traditional print publications, yet it also raises a much greater risk of the discovery of instances of copyright infringement. Therefore, the Graduate College would like to remind all academic units of Article III, Section 4f of the General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure, which charges each unit with the responsibility for knowing applicable regulations of the Copyright Act and conducting their programs in full compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, beginning with the December 2007 thesis deposit period, the Graduate College Thesis Office, acting on the advice of the Office of University Counsel, has added a requirement that two (2) copies of each letter of permission to reprint previously copyrighted material, where such copyright is held by others, in both print and electronic formats be included with the rest of the thesis deposit materials. This is a requirement only for theses in which such previously copyrighted material has been included.
View full statement (PDF)
Your Copyright and You
Who owns the copyright to my thesis?
The copyright to a thesis belongs to the student, according to the University's General Rules. As a condition of being awarded the degree, however, the student grants the University the non-exclusive right "to retain, use and distribute a limited number of copies of the thesis, together with the right to require its publication for archival use."
What if I have intellectual property in my thesis that is not covered by copyright (e.g., material that might be covered by patents, trademarks, etc.)?
Please contact the University's Office of Technology Management.
How do I register my copyright?
You may register your copyright directly through the United States Copyright Office.
Doctoral students may choose to have ProQuest/UMI register their copyright in their name by completing the optional copyright registration form (PDF) and submitting it, along with payment to ProQuest for this optional service, with the rest of the deposit materials.
Am I required to register my copyright in order to deposit my thesis?
No. There are, however, certain benefits to registering your copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office provides a thorough explanation of these benefits.
Is there a way for me to retain my copyright when I submit an article for publication?
It could be possible for you to negotiate which rights you transfer to a publisher before you sign a publishing agreement. The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) has developed an author addendum (PDF) that students may find useful in negotiating the rights that they transfer.
Using Previously Copyrighted Material in Your Thesis
Is my use of previously copyrighted material considered "fair use?"
The Thesis Office does not advise students on what can or cannot be considered "fair use." Students are urged to consult the U.S. Copyright Office's explanation of "fair use."
How do I know whether the material I'm using is protected by someone else's copyright?
Did you create the material? If not, you will need to identify the owner of the work's copyright and determine whether the work's copyright protection has expired. You may find the following publication of the U.S. Copyright Office helpful: "How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work." (PDF)
What if I created the material? Is it possible that I no longer own the copyright to my own work?
Yes. If your work has been published, you may have transferred the copyright to the publisher. Check your publishing agreement: if the publisher owns the copyright to your work, you will need to request permission to reprint it in your thesis and elsewhere.
Do you have a sample permission request letter?
Yes, an example of a letter to request permission to reprint previously copyrighted material can be found here. (PDF) A detailed explanation of the content that should be included in the permission request letter is provided on page 4 of A Student’s Guide to Copyrights and Fair Use, a publication of the Office of Technology Management.
Will you help me obtain permission to reprint previously copyrighted material in my thesis?
The Thesis Office does not provide such assistance. However, the University’s Facilities & Services Printing Department does provide a copyright clearance service to students for a fee. (Please note that it remains the student’s responsibility to determine what material requires copyright clearance.) For additional information, the Facilities & Services Printing Department can be contacted at (217)-333-9350.
Additional Resources
- A Student’s Guide to Copyrights and Fair Use, published by the Office of Technology Management
- Your Intellectual Property, University Library resources for graduate students
- U.S. Copyright Office
- Copyright Law & Graduate Research: New Media, New Rights, and Your New Dissertation, by Kenneth D. Crews
- "How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work," (PDF) U.S. Copyright Office Circular 22
- Sample permission request letter (PDF)
- SPARC Author Addendum (PDF)
- Facilities & Services Printing Department, (217)-333-9350. (The Printing Department provides a copyright clearance service for a fee. Material that requires copyright clearance must be identified by the student.)
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