At Georgia Tech, we recognize the convenience and benefits of sharing educational resources. However, it's essential to navigate this practice responsibly, especially in the digital age where the line between sharing and infringement can blur.

Navigating Use of Course Materials:
What You Need to Know

  1. Unauthorized Distribution:  
    1. Georgia Tech students should be aware that selling or distributing course materials without permission can constitute a violation of the Georgia Tech Student Code of Conduct. See Section D. Prohibited Academic Conduct, Paragraph #9, Georgia Tech Student Code of Conduct. This includes uploading lectures, notes, or exams to platforms like Course Hero, Slader, and similar websites.
    2. Such actions may not only undermine the integrity of our academic environment but also infringe upon the intellectual property rights of our faculty.
  2. Faculty Copyright Ownership:
    1. Course materials created by our faculty are copyrighted intellectual property. This means that reproducing, distributing, or publicly posting these materials without explicit permission from the author is prohibited.
    2. We advise our faculty to include a copyright notice on all course materials to remind students of faculty ownership, copyrights and students’ obligations to respect those rights.
    3. Copyright Notice Examples:

      Copyright 2022 <GT Professor Name>
      All Rights Reserved
      or 
      ©2023 <GT Professor Name>
      or
      ©2023 <GT Professor Name>
      All Rights Reserved
  3. Risks of Using Unauthorized Materials:
    1. It's important to be cautious when purchasing or using course materials from third-party sites. There's a risk of encountering inaccurate or outdated information, which could negatively impact your learning and academic performance.
    2. Relying on unauthorized materials may also expose you to academic misconduct charges.
  4. Action Against Copyright Infringement
    1. Georgia Tech supports faculty in protecting their intellectual property. This includes sending DMCA notices to request the removal of unauthorized materials from websites.
    2. We encourage faculty to inform students about the correct and legal use of course materials and to include relevant statements in their syllabi.

Best Practices for Students and Faculty

For Students:

Be mindful of the sources from which you acquire study materials. Engaging in or supporting academic dishonesty not only violates Georgia Tech’s values but also your personal integrity.

For Faculty:

Clearly communicate your policies regarding the use and distribution of your course materials.

Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), copyright owners can request online service providers to disable access or remove unauthorized content through notices. DMCA notices, containing specific information, must be sent to the infringing site's DMCA agent and/or Internet Service Provider (ISP), and can typically be sent electronically.

For detailed information, please check out Cornell University Library’s How to Request the Removal of Infringing Material, including a Sample DMCA Copyright Notice Claim template and
the U.S. Copyright Office’s DMCA Agent Directory.

If you wish to share your course materials with students and faculty, consider using a Creative Commons License. Creative Commons licenses maintain your copyright and ensure proper attribution while allowing others to use your materials under license terms you select. For more on Creative Commons licenses, please visit: https://creativecommons.org/about/.

Seeking Assistance and Reporting Infringement

If you have issues related to the unauthorized use or distribution of course materials, or if you need additional guidance on how to handle such situations, please reach out to Legal Affairs at Ask Legal <asklegal@gatech.edu>.

Remember, respecting intellectual property rights is not just a legal obligation, but a reflection of our commitment to academic integrity and excellence.