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Copyright: Copyright for Students

This guide provides information on copyright in relation to library collections and their use for teaching, learning and research.

Why do I need to know about copyright?

Copying and downloading are part of college life: during the course of your studies you will encounter the need to photocopy  and download materials for your coursework and research, e.g. book chapters, journals articles, webpages, images etc.

It's the law: this material is covered under Irish copyright law and it is your responsibility to keep within the law when copying and downloading material.

UCD obligation: UCD had a responsibility to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the "Irish Copyright Licensing Agency Higher Education License" (ICLA).

What about assessed works and dissertations?

All assessed work must be referenced correctly, especially so that you avoid any accusations of plagiarism. See our guides and online tutorials on How to Cite and Reference and How to Avoid Plagiarism.  

All materials included must have full acknowledgment. Assessed work that includes copied materials can only be given to your assessor. Any future use will require permission by the rights holder.

In order to avoid breaching copyright when preparing your thesis, make sure that you reference correctly and always check copyright restrictions when using third-party materials.

Disclaimer

The information contained within these pages is intended as a general guideline, and an interpretation of current copyright issues. It is not intended and should not be construed as legal advice.