Intellectual Property Rights Policy

Technology provides multiple avenues for creating, collecting and distributing information. The ease of access to this information does not preclude the responsibility of understanding the legal issues involved in intellectual property. 

Copyright law protects all material unless placed in the public domain, electronic and digital media included. Owners of copyrights hold exclusive right to the reproduction and distribution of their material.

Unauthorized use and distribution of copyrighted material is illegal. Legal action against the individual as well as the university may occur.

The University Libraries provide information on copyright, including Fair Use, obtaining permission, and public domain at https://www.gvsu.edu/library/copyright.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 provides recourse for copyright owners who believe that their rights have been infringed by unauthorized use of their protected works at an online location. Copyright owners may contact the service provider to request that the infringing material be removed or access blocked. Grand Valley State University's designated DMCA agent is:

Bill Fisher

Technical Support Manager

Grand Valley State University

225 Manitou Hall

Allendale, MI 49401

phone: (616) 331-2035

fax: (616) 331-3889

For More Information on the DMCA and other copyright issues, see https://www.loc.gov/copyright.