COPYRIGHT is a bundle of rights. The rights defined in copyright law are exclusive rights of the copyright holder – the author or creator. These include the rights to:
Creative Commons was developed to created a middle ground between ALL RIGHTS RESERVED and NO RIGHTS RESERVED.
Content for this guide created by Lynn Johnson, Rafia Mirza and Faedra Wills
How do you violate copyright?
You violate copyright when you fail to give compensation, or use ideas (content,images, music) WITHOUT getting permission, even if you give credit.
There are some exceptions in copyright law, where you can use items under the U.S. doctrine of Fair Use. Fair Use covers uses such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
If you have general questions*, you can contact us at
Nothing on this guide is to be construed as legal advice.
For actual legal advice, you will need to consult with a lawyer rather then a librarian. You can contact the UT System: Office of the General Council