Managing Copyright Risk: A Balancing Act

DISCUSSIONS ABOUT copyright have become increasingly polarized, with “protect my property from piracy” at one extreme, and “information wants to be free” at the other. In-plants that process materials containing third-party copyrighted material are in an unenviable position, caught between rights holders who require compensation for use of their intellectual property and customers who want quick, inexpensive or free use of desired content. To choose the right position on the copyright compliance spectrum for your in-plant, you must stay informed, adjusting your policy as statutes, litigation and guidelines evolve. Your in-plant can add value, increasing customer satisfaction, by expediting necessary clearance and helping to reduce royalty costs. Diligent clearance protects your customer, your institution and your in-plant from potential liability for copyright infringement.