Copyright law for the college campus isn’t as simple as it used to be. Whereas in the old days it was clear that you couldn’t legally make copies of entire library books without permission, many people are now confused about what they can and cannot do with digital intellectual property. Bring online file-sharing into the picture and the legal waters become even muddier. To quell some of this anxiety, the University of California launched a new website devoted exclusively to copyright education.

The UC uses the new Web site as a vehicle by which to communicate its stance on copyright: although it will not actively pursue individuals who conduct illegal activity on the networks, it will uphold the law and pursue means to deterring copyright infringement. But more than that, the UC site aims to consolidate information that would ordinarily take people much more time and energy to track down and interpret.

“It’s great because it pulls together all the regents’ policies and agreements about copyright, all in one easy-to-use website,” says Jan Carmikle, a UC Davis attorney in the Business Contracts and Analysis office.

The copyright Web site contains everything you need to know about copyright policies specific to the UC, as well as some information about federal law, such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA), the center of attention in many file-sharing lawsuits. Faculty--who are often unsure or unaware of the rules for reproducing course materials and research findings--may get the best use out of the Web site. However, the site does have universal value, as it defines and clarifies copyright for all campus constituents in a timely and educational context.

“It has a nice FAQ section with down-to-earth explanations of fancy legal terms,” Carmickle says.

And since copyright law is ever-changing, the Web site features links to a variety of resources such as the US Copyright Office and other related national news. It also categorizes information by campus; here you can find contact information of UC Davis copyright experts.

The site is an outgrowth of the University Standing Committee on Copyright. For questions and feedback, visit the comments page on the UC copyright Web site. You can also email copyright@ucdavis.edu with your specific copyright-related questions.