COPYRIGHT & POLICIES

The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center is the custodian of hundreds of archival collections; the intellectual property rights of much of the material in these collections is protected by the U.S. Copyright Law. Our goal at the Center is to protect the rights of our collectees, while making the collections accessible to researchers. We are more than just a research center; we are the trusted home of the most personal possessions of our collectees and we protect the collections through a clear set of rules and guidelines.

Permission to examine manuscripts will be granted to a qualified scholar by appointment and upon the completion of the Application for the use of Manuscript Collections form, providing there are no restrictions. This does not carry with it permission to publish such material in whole or in part. For a list of important forms, please visit our Forms page.

The archival staff of the Gotlieb Center will review all requests by scholars and researchers for duplication of any material held and will administer requests for duplication of material in adherence with the Gotlieb Center's policies on duplication and in adherence with the Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code (specifically § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use).

Requests for photocopying of material will be considered when such duplication can be done without injury to the material, and when it is in accordance with donor agreements and copyright restrictions. Photocopying of unpublished manuscripts requires written permission of the donor and/or creator of the material. Correspondence cannot be photocopied without the permission of both parties involved: the writer of the letter, and the recipient or owner of the letter. When appropriate, the Gotlieb Center will direct any researcher to seek approval from the collectee or their estate for reproduction requests. Copying of unpublished material no longer governed by copyright will generally be permitted. Staff must approve all photocopying based on these considerations. Any copies made are for personal research only and are not to be reproduced or placed in another repository.

Strict limits on the number of copies that will be allowed to a researcher exist, and researchers should review all of these limits and rules by visiting our Rules and Guidelines page.

For information on Boston University’s copyright policies governing this web site, please visit the University copyright policy page here: http://www.bu.edu/copyright/