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Copyright

Copyright regulations vary depending who the article is for and from where the article is supplied.

Articles in the Library of Trinity College Dublin

End-Users

The Information Service can supply photocopies to end-users (the requestor) in an organisation on the basis of "fair dealing". This means that they will use the article for scholarly research or private study. The end-user must sign a Copyright Declaration Form (PDF 116KB) for each article s/he requests.

The completed declaration forms can be used as request forms, and faxed, scanned and e-mailed, or posted to the Infomation Service. See Contact Us for details.

It is recommended that copies of declaration forms be kept by the organisation for seven years in case the copyright owner, or their agent, requests an audit. The Information Service does not need to see these declaration forms.

Declaration forms are not necessary for book loans.

Declaration forms must be signed by hand and cannot be signed by stamp or electronically. Librarians, secretaries etc. cannot sign them on behalf of end-users.

Judicial or Parliamentary Proceedings

The Information Service can supply photocopies which are intended for judicial proceedings. A declaration form is not needed in this instance.

Library Collections

The Information Service must be informed if photocopies are intended to be added to an organisations's library collection, in order to get permission from the copyright holder before supplying the copy. A declaration form is not needed in this instance.

Articles in the British Library

If the Library of Trinity College Dublin does not carry the article requested the Information Service can apply to the British Library for a photocopy on the client's behalf.

In this case the Information Service must receive a hard copy of the signed British Library Copyright Declaration Form (PDF 105KB), which the Information Service will keep for seven years. This is to comply with British copyright law, in case the copyright owner, or their agent, requests an audit.

Amount of Copying the Information Service Can Provide

In line with the Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000, the Information Services can provide the following:

  • As many articles in a journal volume as there are issues in each volume. For example: 12 articles from a volume, where there are 12 issues in each volume. Or, 10% of the volume, whichever is greater.
  • A reasonable proportion of any book. "Reasonable" is not defined by the Act. It is up to the supplying library to decide what is reasonable and unreasonable. In general, 10% may be appropriate. See the full copyright page for more information.

Electronic Journals and Databases

Please see the following conditions of use for Information Service clients accessing electronic resources:

  • The copyright and licensing agreements attached to all Library electronic resources have been made on the basis that they be used for educational use
  • All the electronic resources are IP recognised when on the Trinity College Dublin campus and within the server. There is no need for a password to access contents; users are brought directly through to the content from either the Library Online Catalogue or the list of databases and e-books
  • As an Information Service client, using a Corporate Visiting Reader’s Card, the librarian or a colleague can enter the Library of Trinity College Dublin and access the electronic resources as any normal researcher would
  • Unfortunately, remote access to these electronic resources is not available outside the Library of Trinity College Dublin for corporate clients as this would break licensing and copyright agreements on the grounds of educational use
  • The vast majority of the Library of Trinity College Dublin's journals are held in hard copy with about half of them doubling up electronically. When it comes to requesting an article from a journal, the Information Service always go to the hard copy first as this is the safest option in terms of copyright. If the journals is only available electronically, the Information Service has to request that the client come to the Library of Trinity College Dublin and print the document themselves
  • When copying an article the Information Service cannot directly supply in electronic form (e.g., PDF) as this is technically breaking copyright. The Information Service still has to photocopy and send by either fax, post or leave out for collection.
  • Copyright of electronic resources is a very grey area at the moment and until legislation clarifies a library’s position, the Information Service will adhere to the above guidelines.