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Policies: Use of Licensed Electronic Resources Policy

Use of Licensed Electronic Resources Policy

  1. Copyright
  2. License Agreements / Contracts
  3. Loss of Access Privileges

The NSU libraries collect electronic resources (e.g., electronic journals, electronic books or database content) to support the instructional, research and service activities of the NSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni and Broward County community. These resources are purchased or leased by the libraries either directly or through consortia and are governed by license and contract agreements. Each license or contract, whether purchased individually or as a group, contains strict guidelines on the use of the resource.

Nova Southeastern University does not permit the illegal downloading and/or sharing of copyrighted material in any form or manner. (See OIT Technology Policies ( http://www.nova.edu/common-lib/policies/index.html). Electronic resources are copyrighted and are subject to all applicable copyright and database protection rights under the laws of the United States and other countries. All utilizations of these products including downloading, printing or creating copies of content from these resources must be consistent with existing “fair use” law as defined by the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) or international law.

License Agreements/Contracts

Each electronic resource subscribed to or purchased includes a license agreement or contract that details permissions and restrictions on use. Common restrictions include, but are not limited to:

  • Authorized Users consisting solely of employees, faculty, students, staff, alumni and registered Broward County users currently affiliated with the institution; walk-in patrons who access the resource on computers physically located in the library; and remote users affiliated with the institution through secure access procedures established by the institution.
  • Use of the resource should be for the purposes of private research or study only.
  • Alteration, abridgement, adaptation or modification of the licensed material is prohibited, except to the extent necessary to make it perceptible on a computer screen or as otherwise permitted in the agreement.
  • Authorized users may download, store on a PC (or other storage device), or print single copies of documents from the resource for his/her own non-commercial use, provided user maintains all copyright and other notices contained in such material.
  • Systematic or programmatic downloading (e.g., the use of automated “robots” and net accelerators or otherwise downloading or attempting to download in a short period of time large amounts of the subscribed content) is prohibited.
  • Systematic making of print or electronic copies for distribution to non-subscribers or non-subscribing institutions is prohibited.
  • Users may not use any of the licensed material for commercial use (unless permission is granted by the copyright holder).
  • Mounting or distributing any part of the licensed material on any electronic network, including the Internet and the World Wide Web, other than the Secure Network (a network which is only accessible to “authorized users” whose conduct shall by subjected to regulation by the licensee) is prohibited.

License agreements may be terminated immediately at the discretion of individual publishers if terms and conditions are breached.

Loss of Access Privileges

Violators of NSU libraries electronic resource licensing agreements/contracts will have their library access suspended and be subject to other campus or civil disciplinary measures. Violations may result in blocked access to the resources for all library users.