Copyright tutorial

Learn what's legal

Please note that If you have received a notice from the University Information Policy Office directing you to take the online tutorial and quiz, you must visit the copyright tutorial resolution page in order to resolve the incident.

If Indiana University receives a complaint that copyrighted material is being distributed from a computer that our records indicate is registered to your username, this tutorial is a mandatory part of the resolution process. While IU does not actively search for instances of copyrighted infringement, we must respond to complaints of illegal activity on the IU network.

Many online service providers disable the network access of the implicated person immediately upon receipt of the copyright owner's notice. Indiana University allows 36 hours for individuals to educate themselves in copyright law and to produce whatever documented permission they have to share the files, make a statement of compliance and take down the materials themselves, or contest the notice if a mistake has been made.

This tutorial provides basic educational materials. Specifically, you will understand how you were identified as sharing copyrighted materials, why doing so is illegal, and what you must do in response to these copyright complaints.

Public Version

If you would like to view a public version of the DMCA tutorial, click below.

Or choose a topic:

• Are file sharing applications, such as Limewire and BitTorrent illegal?
• Basics of peer-to-peer networks
• A note about privacy and security issues
• The basics of copyright law
• The basics of copyright law (continued)
• Why does copyright law grant exclusive rights to copyright holders?
• What are the penalties for infringing someone's copyright?
• How did the University get involved in this copyright complaint against me?
• Can copyright holders themselves find out who I am and sue me?
• If I think the law is wrong, can't I just ignore it?
• Under what circumstances can I use someones copyrighted material without the copyright holders permission?
• Can't I just say I didn't know it was illegal?
• Indiana University's procedure in response to copyright notices
• How a network block affects your school work
• Your responsibilities as a computer user at IU
• How do I avoid copyright infringement in file sharing?
• What if I want to contest the notice?