Copyright and Fair Use Guide

If permission to use an item is not clear (e.g., through verifying public domain status or a clear license or statement to permit certain uses), then you will need to seek permission from the copyright holder.

Many publishers make it easy to obtain permissions to the works they own through the CCC marketplace. Search for a DOI, Title, or other identifying information to see if a work is included; if it is found in the search, click the "Request Permissions" link and follow the prompts.

If a work is not available through the CCC Marketplace, look at the publisher's website for information about permissions or licensing (often in the website footer). If you contact the publisher and they say they do not own the rights, you may need to contact the author/creator instead.

If you are unable to identify the rightsholder or how to contact them, or if you need further assistance with the permissions process, please contact the Scholarly Communication Librarian, Erin Owens, at eowens@shsu.edu or 936-294-4567.