Great Problems Seminar (GPS): Copyright - Finding and Using Images

Students working on WPI projects often have questions about using images, video, and other materials in their projects. Because most projects will be published on the web for all to see, the principle of Fair Use for Educational purposes does not always apply. For online projects, it is not enough to simply cite your source with a citation; copyright permissions are required for works under copyright protection.

If you have a copyright question, please send specifics to the following email address: copyright@wpi.edu

Questions could include:

• Do I need to seek permission to use this image? [Please provide image and information about where you found it.]
• Can I use this trademarked image in my class presentation?
• Can this video be linked from my project report?
• Who owns the copyright to this material that I would like to use in my report?

For more detailed information on Copyright and implications for your academic work at WPI, see:  https://libguides.wpi.edu/copyright

You may find the answers to your copyright questions in the following resources:

• Attribution generator

• Best Practices for Attribution

• Creative Commons Search

• Copyright and Your WPI Project (Library Guide)

  Includes information on how to find free-to-use images, sounds, and videos.

• WPI Copyright Compliance Website

• WPI Copyright Policy (WPI Copyright Compliance Website)

• Student Projects & Presentations FAQ (WPI Copyright Compliance Website)

If you find copyrighted material that you want to use in your IQP, you need to ask the copyright holder for permission before you can use it. Open and edit the template below in order to request permission to use copyrighted materials. This letter should be addressed to the copyright holder and should be kept in your files.

• Sample Permission Letter

  Feel free to adapt for your own use & check with copyright@wpi.edu if you have questions.

You can find more information on Requesting Permission to use copyrighted materials on the WPI Copyright Compliance Policy website: https://www.wpi.edu/about/policies/copyright-compliance/requesting-permission. 

Citing Images: Copyright and APA

APA Style Blog: Navigating Copyright for Reproduced Images

The APA Style Blog takes you through the four steps of navigating copyright for reproduced images:

1. Understand the copyright status of the image.
2. Determine whether permission is needed to reproduce the image.
3. Secure permission to reproduce the image, if permission is needed. 
4. Write the APA Style copyright statement under the image AND include it in a reference list entry for the image.