Can I Copy Pages From a Monograph For a Small Group Study?

It isn't clear to me the extent I can copy a few pages for a few inmates (county jail) from a monograph for a discipleship class I will be teaching. Do I look for any copyright info I find with a resource? And if there aren't any restrictions spelled out, OK to make a few copies? Thanks for any direction.

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Mike Binks

It isn't clear to me the extent I can copy a few pages for a few inmates (county jail) from a monograph for a discipleship class I will be teaching. Do I look for any copyright info I find with a resource? And if there aren't any restrictions spelled out, OK to make a few copies? Thanks for any direction.

I think that this comes down to discernment, judgement and the 'spirit of the law' rather than any hard and fast rule.

Some tests I would apply...

Is one is trying to avoid purchasing more copies of the book by copying substantial extracts?

Is this one of many sources that will have small extracts copied?

If you had a projector could you show this text slide by slide (i.e. is the paper copy just an adjunct to a visual aid)?

Is it the sort of length you find the kids bringing home from school?

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/774975#Comment_774975

This is what I use as my copyright "legal advice"

http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/

Steve Farson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/774978#Comment_774978

OK thanks Mike and MJ... good thoughts and direction.

Doc B

It isn't clear to me the extent I can copy a few pages for a few inmates (county jail) from a monograph for a discipleship class I will be teaching. Do I look for any copyright info I find with a resource? And if there aren't any restrictions spelled out, OK to make a few copies? Thanks for any direction.

Asking for legal advice on a forum like this is really no different than asking for medical advice. You can get lots of opinions, but that's all it will be.

Copyright law varies by jurisdiction. In the absence of a clear permission statement, you should consult a local attorney for legal advice.

Mike Binks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/775051#Comment_775051

Copyright law varies by jurisdiction. In the absence of a clear permission statement, you should consult a local attorney for legal advice.

Absolutely correct advice, and if you want to be legally correct you should apply the principle rigidly.

I must admit that I also temper my practice with a light touch of - 'if it doesn't say you can't then you can' (always bearing in mind Paul's sage principles of forgoing 'rights') and 'don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to'.