Almost all research you carry out will, at some stage, involve the use of the output of others. At the simplest of levels this will happen when you read books and research papers produced by other researchers in the same field, and then also when you want to quote from their work when you are describing your results in the papers you write.
In all cases it is appropriate that you acknowledge the work of others and that, where appropriate, they get a reward for the effort they have made in creating the work. In most countries of the world there is a system of formal protection for authors so that they can control the use of their work and get such rewards. The general term for this system of formal protection is ‘copyright’ and it also applies to work that you produce.
Copyright is an automatic right – it doesn’t have to be registered, though it always helps an author to have clear proof that he or she created the work in case the rights and their ownership are ever disputed. This is why you often see in a book a line like: (c) Joe Soap 2009.
The following is a basic introduction to the subject of copyright, particularly written for research students at the University of Birmingham, though much of it will apply also to undergraduate students and the staff of the University, as well as the wider academic community.
There are currently three other related WeCT Sections dealing with 'research ethics' which you can access through self-enrolment:
- Staff Development - Online Training for Researchers
- Administration - Plagiarism
- Research & Information Skills - Data Protection for Research Students
Copyright laws are similar in many countries. However, there are some differences, so the advice given in this course is based only on UK laws, and should not be taken as formal legal advice.
For a good introduction to copyright, go to:
Intellectual Property Office – Copyright, at:
For information on copyright as it affects members of the University (staff and students), go to:
Library Services > Research and Teaching Support > Copyright, at: