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Copyright Guide

This guide will help you to find out how copyright affects your study, research and work here at the University of Derby. Please note that information on these pages is for guidance only: it should not be construed as formal legal advice.

Reproducing copyrighted materials for personal use

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You can re-use copyrighted content if it is for one of the following purposes:

  • your own private study or non-commercial research
  • criticism, review and quotation, for example in an essay, dissertation or thesis to support your argument or point 
  • answering an examination question

Safe copying limits

There is no defined amount on how much you are allowed to copy - the law simply says 'non-substantial' and 'fair', but this is not defined. Half of a book would be substantial, one chapter would not. A small selection of text may count as substantial if, for example, it gave away key plot points in a novel.

A general rule of thumb is:

  • 5% or one chapter of a book, whichever is the greater.
  • 5% or one whole article from a journal, whichever is the greater.
  • 5% or one whole paper from a set of conference proceedings or published report of judicial proceedings, whichever is the greater.
  • 5% of an anthology of short stories or poems; or one short story or one poem of no more than 10 pages, whichever is the greater.
  • Short extracts of 400 words or less may be quoted or copied, but longer extracts will require the permission of the copyright holder.

Do not share copies

  • by email
  • on social media through an online network
  • by making multiple photocopies, even for a friend or colleague

Provide sufficient acknowledgement

  • You need to acknowledge the source of any copies you have made.

For more information please read the section How can I copy third-party material legally? of this guide.