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Policies & Visitor Info: Copyright, Permissions & Publication

Reproducing or Publishing Materials from the Archives & Special Collections

 In accordance with the Polices Governing the Use of Archives & Special Collection Materials, it is the researcher's sole responsibility to obtain any necessary permission from the holders of copyright for reproduction or publication of material in Archives & Special Collections.

Publishing or Reproducing Material under Copyright

The E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State holds the copyright to various archival, manuscript, and printed materials within the Archives & Special Collections. This includes writings and correspondence of faculty members and other individuals, records of independent organizations and institutions, and media created by individuals without an official relationship to the College. The Archives & Special Collections Department cannot grant permission for reproduction or publication of those items for which it does not hold copyright; permission can be granted only by the holders of copyright in the materials. It is the researcher’s sole responsibility to identify the copyright holders and to obtain any necessary permission from these copyright holders that is required under United States copyright law. 

The E. H. Butler Library offers various resources on Fair Use Exceptions and making copyright determinations. Please visit our webpage for further information. 

Publishing or Reproducing Material with SUNY Buffalo State Copyright

 In some instances, SUNY Buffalo State holds the copyright to certain types of materials in Special Collections. These materials include, but are not limited to, official College administrative documents, printed materials issued by the College, and photographs taken by College photographers. Researchers seeking to reproduce or publish such materials from Special Collections must request permission using the Letter of Agreement for Publication of Photographic & Digital Reproductions from the Archives & Special Collections Department, SUNY Buffalo State.

Licensing/Publishing Permissions (scholarly, faculty/student/staff, Buffalo State) $25.00 per image
Licensing/Publishing Permissions (scholarly, individual, non-Buffalo State) $50.00 per image
Licensing/Publishing Permissions (commercial, small institution/company) $500.00 per image
Licensing/Publishing Permissions (commercial, large institution/company) $1000.00 per image

Publishing or Reproducing Material in the Public Domain

The Archives & Special Collections Department, E. H. Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo State does not require researchers to request permission for use or publication of material from its collections when it is in the public domain (i.e., material for which the statutory term of copyright has expired or that is otherwise ineligible for copyright protection). Cornell University has created a table on Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States that provides further information on when copyrighted materials move into the public domain.