Obtaining Copyright Permissions
- Overview
- Licenses
- Identifying Copyright Holders
- Textual Works
- Images
- Musical Works & Sound Recordings
- Films
- Dramatic Works
Copyright Questions
The University of Michigan Library Copyright Office provides help with copyright questions for University of Michigan faculty, staff and students.
Email copyright@umich.edu with questions or visit our website for more information.
Legal Advice
The information presented here is intended for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have specific legal questions pertaining to the University of Michigan, please contact the Office of the General Counsel.
If you require legal advice in your personal capacity, the lawyer referral services operated by the Washtenaw County Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan may be helpful to you.
When to Seek Permission
Remember that you do not need permission if you are using something that is not copyrightable or is in the public domain. You also don't need permission if you are using it in a way that does not implicate one of the rights of copyright holders or is permitted by a user’s right, such as fair use. For more information on these topics, please consult Copyright Basics.
Sources of Public-Licensed Textual Works
-
MERLOTMERLOT is a collection of course materials and learning aids on many different subjects. The MERLOT advanced search allows users to search by terms of Creative Commons licenses.
-
OpenDOAR Repository Content SearchOpenDOAR is a directory of open access repositories. Its repository content search allows users to search across all listed repositories. Much of the content searched is licensed under a Creative Commons license or another public license.
Collective Management Organization for Textual Works
-
Copyright Clearance CenterThe Copyright Clearance Center, which is based in the United States, licenses many types of works for a variety of purposes.