Grays Harbor College
Operational Policy 314
- Grays Harbor College is committed to complying with all applicable laws regarding intellectual property. That commitment includes the full exercise of the rights accorded to users of copyrighted works under federal copyright law (Title 17 of the United States Code of Laws.)
- Consistent with this policy, the College expects students, faculty, administrators, and staff members to comply with copyright laws. Failure to observe these laws may result in individual liability for copyright infringement. The College will provide no defense or indemnification to students who illegally reproduce copyrighted material. In cases where employees are following the law and College policy in good faith, the College may provide for the defense and indemnification of faculty, administrators, or staff for alleged copyright infringement in accordance with RCW 4.24.490 and RCW 28B.10.842.
Administrative Procedure 314.01
It is the policy of Grays Harbor College to promote excellent teaching, research, and service activities by facilitating the legal use of copyrighted materials by its faculty, administrators and staff. To that end, the College shall:
- Designate the Assistant Dean for Library Media Services as College’s Copyright Officer. The Copyright Officer shall be registered with the United States Register of Copyrights as the College’s “Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement”, shall exercise general oversight of the copyright function for the college, and shall assure that information about the law is available to its faculty, administrators, and staff.
- Direct the Copyright Officer to develop materials to guide and educate its faculty, administrators, and staff about rights and restrictions addressed by the law pertinent to instruction, including but not limited to those included in its Fair Use provisions, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 and the Technology Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act of 2002.
- Avoid, whenever possible, adopting or supporting policies or agreements that would restrict rights afforded to educational users.
- Post this policy on the College website in a prominent, easy to find, location.
- Direct the copyright officer to offer guidance and provide suggestions regarding appropriate use of copyrighted materials. When deemed necessary, s/he may seek legal counsel from the college’s Assistant Attorney General.