Copyright and Fair Use  

This guide presents basic concepts of copyright for the AMBS community.  U.S. Copyright Law is found in Title 17 of the United States Code.

Select from the tabs above for detailed information on copyright and for AMBS practices. 

Can I make photocopies of an article to distribute to my classmates to read in preparation for a presentation I am making?

Making copies of a non-fiction text for a class discussion is likely within fair use if only a small amount is copied.  A single journal article or a chapter that is less than 10% of a book is generally considered to be a small amount. Be sure to include the citation.  If a larger amount is needed, please check with Eileen Saner in the library.

The United States Constitution gives Congress the power to create copyright law in order to promote the dissemination of knowledge. “The Congress shall have the power . . . to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries” (Article 1, Section 8). Copyright law seeks a balance between the exclusive rights of the creators and the use of created works to improve society.

It is the policy of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary to comply with the provisions of United States copyright law.  Copyrighted materials are distributed in accordance with that law to members of the AMBS community to promote education and scholarship.  If AMBS practices are challenged by a copyright holder, access to the materials in question is suspended pending review by the AMBS Pedagogy Committee and the AMBS Administrative Cabinet.

College professors learn the basics of copyright in less than seven minutes.

Complaints regarding AMBS use of copyrighted materials may be sent to the Copyright Coordinator.