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Copyright Clearance

Reproduction of copyrighted material, without prior permission of the copyright owner, is illegal and an issue of concern for the academic community. Unfortunately, the impropriety of much unauthorized copying is sometimes overlooked by users in an educational setting.

Although the copying of all or part of a work without obtaining permission may appear to be an easy and convenient solution to an immediate problem, such unauthorized copying can frequently violate the rights of the author and/or publisher of the copyrighted work, and can be directly contrary to the academic mission to teach respect of ideas, and for intellectual property which expresses those ideas.

It is recommended that written approval from the holder of the copyright be submitted when published and copyrighted materials are sent to be reproduced.

Without understanding the copyright laws, including elements such as the doctrine of "fair use" and its application and limitations in the education setting, Northwestern University faculty members, printing operations, copy centers, and others may be at risk for engaging in illegal photocopying.