As you get started on your thesis or dissertation,
you should become familiar with the basics
of copyright.
This will be useful as you complete your degree
and in your future professional life.
This video offers a starting point, but you
can visit  bsu.libguides.com/copyrightscholarship/theses
for more information.
 
U.S. Copyright Law gives authors,
artists, and other creators
control over the ways their work
is copied, distributed, adapted, performed,
and displayed.
Though the rules for getting copyright protection
have changed over time, today copyright is
granted automatically—it doesn’t require
special registration, and it lasts for 70
years after the life of the creator.
However, the law also gives the rest of us
permission to use copyrighted works in limited
ways, especially for educational and scholarly
purposes.
The provision known as “fair use” will
sometimes allow you to move forward without
the copyright holder’s permission as you
seek to incorporate quotations, images, video,
charts, tables, or other materials into your
work.
When it comes to fair use, the most important
rules of thumb are to 1) only use materials
that are central to your argument, not just
for illustration or decoration; 2) only use
the amount that you need, such as a short
video clip or medium-sized image; and 3) cite
your source.
For instance, this online exhibit uses a copyrighted
image, but it adds interpretation and context
and clearly notes where the image came from.
Not sure fair use applies?
When in doubt, you can always ask permission
to use material in your thesis or dissertation.
You will also need to consider how to share
your work once it’s complete.
You will be required to submit a copy of your
final project for safekeeping in the University
Libraries online collection of theses and
dissertations.
When you do this, you will need to choose
whether you wish to make your work publicly
available to anyone online, or if you wish
to limit access to Ball State faculty, students,
and staff.
If you want to easily share your thesis with
a future employer, we recommend you choose
worldwide access, which will also make your
work available in Google Scholar.
Have questions?
Email Copyright and Scholarly Communications
Librarian Perry Collins at pmcollins@bsu.edu.
