Creative Commons (CC) is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to helping build and sustain a thriving commons of shared knowledge and culture.
As a student you can make a single photocopy / scan of copyright material for research, private study, criticism or review (under fair dealing and the exceptions to copyright law). The University's CLA licence extends the limitations under fair dealing to the following:
Any type of copyright work can be made accessible for a disabled person for personal use. In addition there are two exceptions to copyright that cover you if you have a physical or mental impairment which prevents you from accessing copyright protected materials.
The library pays a licence fee for access to online resources such as eBooks and online journal articles. Current students can access these resources and download and print sections for their own personal use. The amount you can copy is usually restricted by download limits which are automatically applied to the resource. In general you can:
For more information see our How to use eBooks guide.
During your studies you may need to use images in an assignment, presentation, essay, or your dissertation and these may include graphs, charts, diagrams, illustrations and photographs etc., which are classed as 'artistic works' and are covered by copyright law in a similar way to text based resources (Section 4 CDPA).
Using images for educational purposes (non-commercial research and private study exception) may be permitted if the image is relevant to the discussion, review or critique of the work (criticism, review or quotation exception) and not just included for ornamental purposes, under the fair dealing exception. If you use an image, it is your responsibility to make sure that a copyright exception applies (see above). If there is any doubt, then you will need to seek permission from the copyright owner.
For more information see our Finding Still and Moving Images guide on Still images online.
When using any image in your assessed work, you must reference it as you would for a text-based resource. In addition some image sources will require the image caption have the rights holder and the licensing terms acknowledged e.g. Arnside Sea Front by Joseph Hardman (1893–1972), Lakeland Arts, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND ( See: UK Art: How to credit an image)
For more referencing information see our guides page.
Clips from film and tv can be used in assessed classroom presentations. Our BoB service is licensed for educational use and all content is copyright cleared (See: ERA Plus licence). BoB playlists or clips can be included in Online Reading Lists. Other streaming services like YouTube need to be used with care, and permissions may need to be obtained from the copyright holder.
When using any moving image in your assessed work, you must reference it as you would for a text-based resource.
For more referencing information see our guides page.
Using sound, music or sound effects for educational purposes (non-commercial research and private study exception) may be permitted if the sound extract is relevant to the discussion, review or critique of the work (criticism, review or quotation exception). If you use any sound, music or sound effect, it is your responsibility to make sure that a copyright exception applies (see above). If there is any doubt, then you will need to seek permission from the copyright owner.
For more information see the Sound resources box on the Music & sound guide.
When using any sound resource in your assessed work, you must reference it as you would for a text-based resource. In addition, some sound sources will require an attribution where the rights holder and the licensing terms are acknowledged e.g. Lluvia de verano (summer rain) by Neurtransmisoris licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) License.
For more referencing information see our guides page.