Frequently Asked Questions
Copyright and Permissions Basics
1. What is copyright?
2. What is permission?
3. What is fair use?
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. Are there any relevant Web sites with additional general copyright information?
Obtaining Permission to Use ASCD Products
Print Publications (Books, Journals, Action Tools, Facilitators' Guides, Newsletters)
9. How do I obtain permission to photocopy pages from an ASCD print publication?
10. How do I obtain permission to make ASCD print publications available in electronic format on an intranet, via email, or on Web pages?
11. How do I request a digital version of a print publication for students with disabilities requiring alternative text formats?
12. How do I obtain reprint permission to include ASCD content in another publication?
13. How do I obtain permission to include ASCD content in my dissertation or thesis?
14. Does ASCD grant permission to duplicate entire books that are out-of-print for academic purposes?
15. As an ASCD author, may I reuse my published material?
Web-based Products (Web Pages, Action Tools, E-Newsletters, ASCD Infobrief)
16. Do I need permission to reuse content from the ASCD Web site?
17. May I link to ASCD Web pages without obtaining permission?
18. How do I request permission to use content from ASCD SmartBrief?
Audio and Film Products (Duplicating, Streaming, or Broadcasting)
19. Does ASCD grant permission to duplicate audio and film products?
20. Does ASCD grant permission to stream or broadcast audio or film products?
21. Does ASCD grant permission to transfer purchased films from one format to another?
22. Does ASCD grant permission to use audio or film clips in another production?
23. Does ASCD provide copies of out-of-print audio and film products upon request?
Translating ASCD Publications and Products
24. How do I obtain permission to translate an entire ASCD publication or multimedia product into another language for sale outside the United States?
25. How do I obtain permission to translate an excerpt from an ASCD publication?
Other Uses of ASCD Publications
26. What if the permission I require is not addressed in the FAQ?
General Questions About Permission Requests
27. How long will it take to obtain permission?
28. Do I need permission from the author(s) as well as from the publisher?
29. For what reason(s) might ASCD deny permission?
30. Do I need to request permission each time I wish to use ASCD content?
31. Do I need to request permission if I do not reprint ASCD content exactly as it is originally published?
32. Do I need to request permission if I am using a small portion or paraphrasing ASCD content?
33. Is there a limit to the amount of material I may request to use?
34. What are the differences between reprinting, republishing, photocopying, and purchasing reprints?
Licensing and Invoicing
35. How do I obtain a license?
36. How long is a license valid?
37. When is payment due?
Obtaining and Purchasing ASCD Products
38. Do you provide complimentary copies of journal articles upon request ?
39. Do you provide complimentary copies of books for personal use upon request?
40. Can I purchase additional copies of Educational Leadership?
41. Can I purchase glossy reprints of a single Educational Leadership article in bulk?
Copyright and Permissions Basics
1. What is copyright?
Copyright is the legal protection granted to authors of original works that are fixed in a tangible medium, whether published or unpublished, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. This protection, which varies by country, gives the owner of copyright (and others authorized by the owner) the following five basic copyrights
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To reproduce copies of all or part of the work
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To prepare derivative works based upon the work
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To distribute copies of the work to the public
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To perform the work publicly (literary, musical, dramatic, choreographic works, pantomimes, motion pictures, and other audiovisual works)
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To display the work publicly (literary, musical, dramatic, choreographed works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including images from a motion picture or other audiovisual work)
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2. What is permission?
Permission authorizes someone other than the copyright owner to exercise any combination of the five basic rights in a work, in whole or in part, protected by copyright law.
These would include
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Photocopying an entire work or excerpts of one
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Posting excerpts of a work on a Web site, including portions in another publication
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Performing music or a film in public
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Distributing copies of a work, in whole or in part
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Translating a book
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Displaying a film
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Broadcasting or transmitting a film from a Web server, cable, or satellite
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3. What is fair use?
Under U.S. Copyright Law, fair use permits, in limited situations, the use of portions of a copyrighted work without the copyright owner's permission, specifically for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. There are four factors that are taken into consideration when determining such exclusion to seeking permission
- The purpose and character of the use (including whether such use is of a commercial nature or for nonprofit educational purposes)
- The nature of the copyrighted work (fact vs. fiction)
- The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
- The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work
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4. How do I determine if the material I wish to use is still copyrighted, or might be in the public domain?
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 federal government works, see the U.S. Copyright Office's FAQs.
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5. Are out-of-print books and articles no longer protected by copyright?
No. All ASCD publications are still protected by copyright, regardless of publication status. In some cases, the rights revert back to the author when a book is no longer in print. If a product is out-of-print but ASCD retains the rights, 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 ASCD with your request using the appropriate online request form and we will let you know the current rights status of the publication.
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6. How do I determine who owns the copyright?
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 a copy of a work or excerpts that do not contain a citation or copyright notice, e-mail ASCD's Rights & Permissions Department.
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7. If ASCD doesn't hold the copyright, how do I find the owner?
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 also maintains records of registered works by author and title that are searchable online or available by contacting the Library of Congress.
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8. Are there any Web sites with additional general copyright information?
Visit the U.S. Copyright Office or Copyright Clearance Center Web site to learn more about copyright basics.
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Obtaining Permission to Use ASCD Products
Print Publications (Books, Journal Articles, Action Tool Guides, Facilitator's Guides, Newsletters)
9. How do I obtain permission to photocopy pages from an ASCD print publication?
Copyright Clearance Center handles permission requests to photocopy and distribute excerpts of all ASCD print materials (e.g., books, journal articles, facilitator's guides, action tools) and printouts of ASCD electronic publications (e.g., Web pages, e-newsletters, screen grabs). For faster service, submit your requests online at www.copyright.com or contact:
Copyright Clearance Center
222 Rosewood Drive
Danvers, MA 01923 USA
Phone: 1-978-750-8400
Fax: 1-978-646-8600
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10. How do I obtain permission to make ASCD print publications available in electronic format on an intranet, through e-mail, or on my Web pages?
To request permission to post or distribute ASCD content electronically on your intranet or through e-mail, submit your request to Copyright Clearance Center. Note that electronic access permission is only granted for use on secure, password protected Web pages and limited e-mail distributions.
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11. How do I request a digital version of a print publication for students with disabilities requiring alternative text formats?
Submit your request in writing to Rights and Permissions.
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12. How do I obtain reprint permission to include ASCD content in another publication?
Complete the online Request to Reprint form. Completed forms may also be faxed to 1-703-575-4978 or mailed to:
ASCD Rights & Permissions
1703 N. Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1714 USA
Note that filling out the form in its entirety will result in faster service and incomplete forms may delay the processing of your request.
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13. How do I obtain permission to include ASCD content in my dissertation or thesis?
Submit your request using the Request to Reprint form. Explain your use in the "Purpose of Publication" section of the form and specify if you require permission for both print and electronic format.
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14. Does ASCD grant permission to duplicate entire out-of-print books for academic purposes?
Yes. Submit your request using the Request to Reprint form. Explain that your use is for academic purposes and include the course title and educational institution information in the "Purpose of Publication" section of the form.
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15. As an ASCD author, may I reuse my published material?
Yes. However, requests must be submitted in writing using the Request to Reprint form. Permission will not be withheld unreasonably. Authors are not required to pay a fee for personal use of their own work.
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Web-Based Products (Web pages, Action Tools, E-Newsletters, ASCD SmartBrief)
16. Do I need permission to reuse content from the ASCD Web site?
Yes. All material contained on ASCD Web pages is protected by copyright. Requests must be submitted in writing using the appropriate online request form. If ASCD does not control rights in the content, as is the case for some images, illustrations, and journal articles, we will provide you with an explanation and the right holder's contact information.
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17. May I link to ASCD Web pages without obtaining permission?
Yes. You may link to any ASCD Web page from your site. However, you may not use ASCD logos, mastheads, or trademarks on your site without obtaining prior written authorization from ASCD. Also, you may not post PDF reproductions of ASCD Web pages without prior written authorization.
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18. How do I request permission to use content from ASCD SmartBrief?
Submit your request to ASCD SmartBrief, or call 1-202-737-5500.
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Audio and Film Products (Duplicating, Streaming, or Broadcasting)
19. Does ASCD grant permission to duplicate audio and film products?
ASCD grants duplication and reformat rights only if the product is not available for purchase from the ASCD Online Store and you are duplicating the entire product. (ASCD does not license audio or film clips for use in other productions.)
If your needs match these standards, submit your request using the Request to Duplicate Audio or Film form.
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20. Does ASCD grant permission to transfer purchased audio and film products from one format to another?
In most cases, no. However, if the ASCD product is not available from the ASCD Online Store in the format you require, you may submit your request to reformat your copy using the Request to Duplicate Audio or Film form. Make sure you specify the reason for your request (e.g., equipment upgrade, archival purposes).
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21. Does ASCD grant permission to stream or broadcast audio or film products?
Yes. Submit your request using the Request to Transmit form. ASCD will be available to assist you if you require a third-party server to stream our products.
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22. Does ASCD grant permission to use audio or film clips in another production?
No. ASCD does not currently license clips of audio or film products for use in another production or for video streaming purposes. Video streaming licenses are issued for entire products only. If you have questions about a proposed use, e-mail ASCD's Rights & Permissions Department.
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23. 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 film products for duplication purposes.
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Translating ASCD Publications and Products
24. How do I obtain permission to translate an entire ASCD publication or multimedia product into another language for sale outside the United States?
ASCD welcomes foreign rights inquiries from publishing companies or agencies. Please submit translation requests to ASCD Translations.
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25. How do I obtain permission to translate an excerpt from an ASCD publication?
Submit your request using the Request to Translate form.
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26. What if the permission I require is not addressed in the FAQ?
If for any reason you have questions or require permission not addressed in the FAQ, please contact the Rights & Permissions Department in one of the following ways
E-mail: ASCD Rights & Permissions
Phone: 1-703-575-5749 or 1-800-933-2723, press 3
Fax: 1-703-575-4978
Mail: ASCD Rights & Permissions
1703 N. Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1714 USA
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General Questions About Permission Requests
27. How long will it take to obtain permission?
Due to the varied nature of the requests ASCD receives, we cannot guarantee a specific turnaround time. 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, send an e-mail to ASCD's Rights and Permissions Department, or call 1-800-933-2723, press 3.
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28. Do I need permission from the author(s) as well as from the publisher?
In most instances, no. If an author has retained rights to the requested content, we will advise you and provide author contact information if it's available.
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29. For what reasons might ASCD deny permission?
Some of the reasons your permission request may be denied include
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The book is out of print and the rights have reverted to the author or another copyright owner.
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The author of a journal article or the copyright owner of a book retained the rights you are requesting. After receiving your request, we will advise you if you must seek permission from another source.
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Material such as figures, illustrations, excerpts, and images is credited to another source. ASCD does not have the right to grant permission for material that we only obtained one-time rights to include in our publication.
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ASCD does not grant third parties the right to post ASCD content on other Web sites available to the general public.
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ASCD does not grant permission to include video clips in third party audio or film products or for public speaking engagements for profit.
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ASCD does not grant permission to duplicate products available for purchase from the
ASCD Online Store.
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30. Do I need to request permission each time I want to use ASCD content?
Yes. ASCD grants permission for one-time use only and requires you make a request each time you wish to duplicate excerpts from book, audio, or film products, and Web content.
However, ASCD does permit readers to duplicate a limited number of copies from the below periodicals free of charge, provided that:
- Copies are distributed free of charge beyond the cost of duplication
- Each copy includes a full citation of the source
| Publication |
Free use without written permission |
| Educational Leadership |
Up to 50 copies of up to 3 articles from a single issue |
| Education Update |
Up to 100 copies of one article from a single issue |
This authorization does not include articles, illustrations, graphics, or photographs not copyrighted by ASCD. Check the citation and copyright notice printed in the issue.
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31. Do I need to request permission if I do not reprint ASCD content exactly as it is originally published?
Yes. In this instance your use would be an adaptation and you must obtain ASCD's permission, as the copyright owner of the original work, to create a derivative work.
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32. 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, if they meet the fair use criteria indicated above.
However, all borrowed material must still be sourced to ASCD. When in doubt, you should always seek permission first.
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33. Is there a limit to the amount of material I may request to use?
Yes. As a matter of policy, ASCD does not grant permission to duplicate entire books, journal editions, or audio or film 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 one journal issue. You may be given permission to copy greater percentages of out-of-print publications.
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34. What are the differences between reprinting, republishing, photocopying, and purchasing reprints?
Reprinting and republishing refer to the right to include content in another publication or new collective work such as books, professional journals, newsletters, newspapers, and CD-ROMs. Submit requests to ASCD using the appropriate online request form.
Photocopying rights are granted to requestors who are seeking permission to make their own copies of journal articles and publication excerpts for teaching, professional development, internal uses, or other uses. These requests, for both academic and nonacademic uses, are handled by Copyright Clearance Center.
Reprints refer to copies of individual articles that can be purchased in large quantities. Reprints of Educational Leadership 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
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Licensing and Invoicing
35. How do I obtain a license?
Upon receipt of your permission request, ASCD will advise you if your request will be granted and the fee for its use. All permissions are granted in writing with an invoice to follow by mail under separate cover.
The best method of communication is e-mail, so make sure your request includes complete contact information (e-mail address, phone, fax, and mailing address). Also specify if you have a preferred method of contact.
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36. How long is a license valid?
All licenses are issued for a specific one-time use, as indicated in the written license you will receive. For photocopying, permission is limited to a one-time printing in the amount requested.
Electronic rights are generally granted for a one-year term and video streaming licenses are issued with unlimited use for up to three years.
All terms and conditions are negotiable, so be as specific as possible in your initial request to ensure that all rights and the term of the license are adequate for your proposed use.
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37. When is payment due?
Licensing fees are due within 30 days of your receiving the invoice by mail. If your publication is delayed or processing payment will take longer, contact ASCD's Rights & Permissions Department.
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Obtaining and Purchasing ASCD Products
38. Do you provide complimentary copies of journal articles upon request?
No. ASCD does not provide free copies of articles to nonmembers. If you are an ASCD member, sign in to access all publications available at your membership level.
ASCD does make a few articles from each issue of a publication available online for public access. On the Table of Contents page for each issue, look for the "Read the Article" link under a title to access the content. Otherwise, nonmembers may purchase individual articles by clicking on the "Buy the Article" link under the other titles. The price to view or print a full article is $3.
However, if you consider sharing or disseminating the material accessed with your membership or obtained free on the Web site, you still must seek permission where appropriate. Visit the Obtaining Permission to Use ASCD Products section of the FAQ if you are not sure if you need to seek permission for your intended use.
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39. Do you provide complimentary copies of books for personal use upon request?
In most cases, no. However, we do provide desk copies to professors and to education publishers and reviewers for promotional purposes. Call the Service Center at 1-703-578-9600 or toll-free at 1-800-933-ASCD for more information.
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40. Can I purchase additional copies of Educational Leadership?
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.
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41. Can I purchase glossy reprints of a single Educational Leadership article in bulk?
Yes. But there is a minimum required for orders. Contact Betsy White at The Reprint Outsource for additional information and questions.
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