Home: CARL: Copyrights

For Students

Copyright permissions are required for MMAS theses and SAMS monographs. These become openly accessible via the CARL’s Digital Library after graduation.

Please fill out the Student Copyright Permissions Request Form and submit before contacting CARL's Copyright Office. Student forms should be received at minimum one month before your final deadline.

Materials in the public domain are recommended, to include .mil and .gov websites, Center for Military History publications, Library of Congress materials, and more. Please see the Copyright Office for additional information or contact our Reference staff through Ask a Librarian for assistance with finding public domain materials.

Student Copyright Permissions Request Form

Resources for Copyright-Free/Public Domain Images and Maps

US Army Photos
US Air Force Photos
US Marine Corps Photos
US Navy Photos
US Coast Guard Photos
The World Factbook - CIA Maps
The World Factbook is in the public domain, however US Code prohibits use of the CIA seal in any way that implies the CIA approved, endorsed, or authorized the use. As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used. For any further clarification, please see CARL’s Copyright Office.
Perry-Castaneda Library (PCL) Map Collection
Archived in 2021 and no longer an actively updated site, the PCL Map Collection still contains thousands of useful maps, most of which are in the public domain. No permission is needed for use of the majority of the maps scanned by the University of Texas Libraries, but please use the phrase “Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin” when crediting your source. If a map is not in the public domain, it should be clearly marked.
Library of Congress Digital Collections
The Library of Congress’ Digital Collections contain numerous maps, photos, drawings, prints, and more. Many of these materials are in the public domain. If you are unsure if something is in the public domain, please submit a copyright request form and the CARL Copyright Office can assist.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons is a huge repository of media, and their goal is to make available public domain content. The majority of images found here should be in the public domain, though some may have additional copyright restrictions. If you are unsure if something is in the public domain, please submit a copyright request form and the CARL Copyright Office can assist.

For Faculty

Please fill out the Faculty Copyright Permissions Request Form. All copyright requests require 8-12 weeks, so please allow an appropriate amount of time when requesting permission. There are major publishers that require extended amounts of time to process and approve requests. Approval from the Copyright Office must be in hand before reproducing, uploading or using material. Each copyright permission is obtained for one academic year, so materials used annually must be requested annually.

Faculty Copyright Permissions Request Form

Resources

AR 27-60 Intellectual Property

Department of the Army Guidance Concerning Works Protected by Copyright

CGSC Bulletin 918 Copyright Policies and General Guidelines

Contact

Office Hours and Location:

Eisenhower Hall, CARL, Rm C118

8:00-11:00am & 1:00-3:00pm

Should you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, contact the Copyright Office via our Ask a Librarian service or at usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.armyu-cgsc-carl-acquisitions@army.mil.

Mailing Address:

US Army Command and General Staff College

Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library

ATTN: Copyright Office

250 Gibbons Avenue

Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-7800

FAQs

Can't I claim fair use?

The library does not provide fair use analysis or legal advice, only copyright permissions. All risk assessments and legal opinions should come from the local SJA office.

But I cited the work, isn't that enough?

Citing a material does not excuse the need for copyright permission.

I found it on the internet! That doesn't need copyright, does it?

All works not your own still require permission to use.

How long does it take to obtain a permission?

Unfortunately, it depends. Large publishing houses typically require 8 - 12 weeks to respond. Copyright owners or authors that are difficult to find or contact can also require several weeks due to research and response times.

How much does a copyright permission cost?

Again, this depends. The amount of material required of the total work, how the material will be used, and other factors go in to determining cost.

What is the legal status of us using YouTube videos in our official lesson plans?

Anything we use in the curriculum or in the classroom should be a legal copy. If a YouTube video is a legal copy, legally posted and is not an infringement, there is no issue in using it in the classroom. Posting a link to a legal copy is always a preferred option.

Where do I start with assessing the intellectual property and copyright status of a work?

Contact CARL's Copyright Office or feel free to consult The Copyright Genie or the Digital Image Rights Computator to begin learning more.