Target Audience

Early stage postgraduate research students

These sessions are run early in the year for all new postgraduate students in the faculty of Arts starting research for either a Masters dissertation or doctoral thesis.

Process

A one and a half hour small group participatory session.

Description

The course provides a basic overview and grounding in the key issues relating to copyright. The use of previously published work, the creation of original works, the internet and the use of information technologies and databases in all fields of research makes a general understanding of these issues increasingly important.

During the session participants will be made aware of the importance of copyright compliance with regard to the university e-thesis deposition regulations.

This session will help researchers forsee avoidable pitfalls. It will enable you to acquire the knowledge necessary to legitimately exploit the work of others and acquire an understanding of how your own original work is in turn protected by the framework of intellectual property rights.

It is recommended that all research students attend this course as early as possible to familiarise themselves with the law about copyright. Attending the course will help you understand your position as a researcher. It should help you avoid pitfalls and misunderstandings that can arise on questions of copyright. This is an important course, especially with internet resources playing such an critical role in research.

Aims

It is important that all researchers engaging in research are made aware of issues relating to copyright as early as possible in their work, to avoid problems and misunderstandings arising later. The aim is to provide researchers with an initial awareness of copyright and how these relate to planning, conducting and presenting original research.

Feedback from students

“Really clarified the whole copyright issue.” 05/12/07

“I will be careful about what I use and how I use it.” 05/12/07