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Copyright and Permissions Basics
1. What is copyright? Are all ASCD publications and products protected by copyright?
2. What is permission?
3. For ASCD permission purposes, what are the differences in “reprint,” “republication,” “photoduplication,” “electronic access,” “reproduction,” and “streaming” rights?
4. How do I determine if the material I wish to use is still copyrighted or might be in the public domain?
5. Are out-of-print books and articles no longer protected by copyright?
6. How do I determine who owns the copyright?
7. If ASCD doesn't hold the copyright, how do I find the owner?
8. Do I need to request permission each time I use ASCD content?
9. Do I need to request permission if I paraphrase ASCD content?
10. Is there a limit to the amount of material I may request to use?
11. Do I need permission from both the author(s) and publisher of an article or book?
12. If I am an author or coauthor of an ASCD publication, do I need permission to reuse excerpts from my work?
13. Are there any relevant websites with additional general copyright information?
Obtaining Permission to Reuse ASCD Content
14. What if I want to distribute limited copies of an ASCD periodical article to colleagues or students for noncommercial, professional development purposes?
15. How do I secure permission if I want to
16. How long does it take to receive permission?
17. May I link to ASCD web pages without obtaining permission?
18. May I use the ASCD logo or other trademarks on my website or in my publication?
19. What if the permission I require is not addressed in the FAQ?
Obtaining Copies of ASCD Articles, Publications, or Video Products
20. Does ASCD provide complimentary copies of periodical articles?
21. Does ASCD provide copies of out-of-print audio and video products upon request?
22. Can I purchase additional copies of Educational Leadership (EL)?
23. Can I purchase glossy reprints of a single EL article in bulk?
24. How do I request a desk copy of an ASCD publication?
25. How do I request a digital copy of an ASCD publication for use by a student with disabilities?
Copyright is a form of protection granted by law for original works of authorship, such as books, articles, music, artwork, and computer software, whether published or unpublished. Copyright exists the moment a work is created in a fixed, tangible form of expression. The work does not need to be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office for the copyright to be valid. All ASCD products, publications, videos, and web pages are protected by copyright.
Copyright laws give the owner, or holder, of the copyright exclusive rights to reproduce (in print or electronic format), distribute copies of, perform publicly (in the case of music and dance), display (in the case of artwork and web pages), and prepare derivatives based on the work (e.g., translations, a film based on a book).
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Permission authorizes someone other than the copyright holder to exercise any combination of the basic rights to reuse their work, in whole or part, alone or in combination with other copyrighted works. Examples might be photocopying an article from a journal, translating a book, or using an excerpt from one book in another publication. ASCD Rights & Permissions categorizes permissions for publication reuse as “photoduplication,” “electronic,” “republication,” and “reprint.” For video and visual products, permission is granted for “reproduction” and “streaming.”
3. For ASCD permission purposes, what are the differences in “reprint,” “republication,” “photoduplication,” “electronic,” “reproduction,” and “streaming” rights?
Generally, works published in the United States after January 1, 1923, are protected by copyright, with the length of protection dependent on a number of factors, including the time the work was created, the publication history of the work, the life span of the author, and if the work was created as a "work made for hire." Works created by the federal government or published before 1923 are most likely in the public domain. For more information about copyright duration and public domain status of works, see the U.S. Copyright Office's FAQs.
Protection is not determined by print status. ASCD publications are protected by copyright even if currently out-of-print. If a product is out-of-print, you must still obtain permission to use excerpts and reproduce copies. In some cases, we may also grant permission to reproduce entire products currently out-of-print. Contact Rights & Permissions for the current rights status of the publication.
First, check the copyright notice included with articles, journals, and books, as well as any acknowledgements or sources indicated for specific illustrations, figures, and images. If you have questions regarding a citation or source, contact Rights & Permissions.
Material included in publications that is not owned or controlled by ASCD is indicated in the form of a credit, separate copyright notice, or acknowledgement. Permission for further use of such content must be secured from the original rights holder indicated. The U.S. Copyright Office maintains records of registered works by author and title that are searchable online or available by contacting the Library of Congress. If in doubt, contact Rights & Permissions and we will assist you.
8. Do I need to request permission each time I want to reuse ASCD content?
Yes. Permission only covers the contemplated reuse as requested, not future uses or editions. You are required to request permission each time you wish to reuse ASCD content.
9. Do I need to request permission if I'm using a small portion or paraphrasing ASCD content?
In some cases, no. Permission may not be necessary for quotes or paraphrasing small portions of ASCD content. However, all borrowed material must still be sourced to ASCD, whether paraphrased or reproduced exactly as first published. If in doubt, contact Rights & Permissions and we will assist you.
Yes. As a matter of policy, ASCD does not grant permission to duplicate entire books, journal editions, or audio or video products available for purchase through the ASCD Online Store.
For excerpts, we do not allow photocopying or reprinting of more than 10 percent of any in-print book or more than three articles from any single issue of EL. You may be given permission to copy greater percentages of out-of-print publications.
11. Do I need permission from both the author(s) and the publisher?
No. However, some authors retain copyright in their articles, indicated by a separate copyright notice, and should be contacted to seek permission. When in doubt, contact Rights & Permissions and we will advise you and provide author contact information, if applicable.
Yes. Requests must be submitted to Copyright Clearance Center or Rights & Permissions, depending on the type of reuse and instructions in Section 15 below. Authors are not required to pay a fee for personal use of excerpts from their own work.
13. Are there any websites with additional general copyright information?
Visit the U.S. Copyright Office or Copyright Clearance Center website to learn more about copyright basics (PDF).
ASCD permits readers to photocopy a limited number of copies from the below periodicals or make electronic copies available on a secure server or via e-mail attachment to the equivalent number of users or recipients, without securing separate written permission, if the copies
Publication
Free use without written permission
Educational Leadership
Up to 50 copies of up to three articles from a single issue
ASCD Express
Up to 100 copies of one article from a single issue
Education Update
Policy Priorities
Educator Advocates
This authorization does not include articles, illustrations, graphics, or photographs not owned or controlled by ASCD. Check the citation and copyright notice printed in the issue.
For ASCD Smartbrief, please send an e-mail or call 1-202-737-5500 for more information about securing the appropriate permission.
Copyright Clearance Center 222 Rosewood Drive Danvers, MA 01923 USA Phone: 1-978-750-8400 Fax: 1-978-646-8600
E-mail: Rights & Permissions Fax: 703-575-3629 Phone: 1-800-933-2723, X5749 or press #3 Mail: ASCD 1703 N. Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
Web-Based Products (Web pages, Action Tools, E-Newsletters, ASCD SmartBrief)
Due to the varied nature of the requests ASCD receives, we exercise all reasonable effort to respond within 5 to 10 business days or sooner. Submitting your requests to Copyright Clearance Center or using our online request forms will result in faster service. We make every effort to accommodate deadlines specified in requests. For follow-up inquiries or for further information, contact Rights & Permissions or call 1-800-933-2723, x5749 or press 3.
ASCD encourages you to appropriately link to any ASCD Web page, subject to our Terms of Use. However, you may not use ASCD logos, mastheads, or trademarks on your site as a link without obtaining prior written authorization from ASCD. Also, you may not post PDF reproductions of ASCD Web pages without prior written authorization. For more information, contact Rights & Permissions.
18. May I use the ASCD logo, mastheads, or other ASCD trademarks on my website, or in my publication or product?
Use of the ASCD logo, mastheads, or other ASCD trademarks requires written permission from ASCD. Never use an ASCD trademark, masthead, or logo to promote the sale of goods, services, or causes, or to suggest endorsement by ASCD of any goods, services, or causes without written permission from ASCD, or to otherwise misrepresent your relationship with ASCD. For more information, contact Rights & Permissions.
If for any reason you have questions or require permission not addressed in the FAQ, please contact Rights & Permissions.
No. ASCD does not provide free copies of articles to nonmembers. If you are an ASCD member, log in to access every article from every periodical. As a nonmember, you may access archived articles of Educational Leadership (EL) on our site in PDF format from 1943 through 1997. In addition, ASCD does make a few articles from each issue of EL available online for public access (any article without the ‘lock’ icon).
21. Does ASCD provide copies of out-of-print audio and film products upon request?
No. ASCD does not currently loan copies of out-of-print audio and video products for duplication purposes.
Yes. They are available for $7 per issue. Visit the ASCD Online Store, or call the Service Center at 1-703-578-9600 or toll-free at 1-800-933-ASCD.
Reprints of EL articles are available, with a minimum order of 500 copies, through The Reprint Outsource. Contact our representative, Betsy White, at
The Reprint Outsource 1525 Oregon Pike, Suite 1202A Lancaster, PA 17601 USA E-mail: bwhite@reprintoutsource.com Phone: 1-717-394-7350 Fax: 1-717-394-7358
Call the Service Center at 1-703-578-9600 or toll-free at 1-800-933-ASCD, or e-mail Web Help.
25. How do I request a digital copy of an ASCD publication or a closed-captioned version of a video product for use by a student with disabilities?
Contact Rights & Permissions and include the name of your institution, address, and phone number, and the publication or video product. ASCD does not provide closed-captioned copies of ASCD video products but can provide you with a transcript upon request.
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ASCD respects intellectual property rights and adheres to the laws governing them. Learn more about our permissions policy and submit your request online.