Frequently Asked Questions about Copyrights and the DMCA

ARCHIVED 2021-03-03, DATE APPROXIMATE · VERSION 20210303_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20200922_rev01

Full text changes — 20200922_rev01 to 20210303_rev01

COLOUR MARKS THE SEVERITY OF A FLAGGED CLAUSE · + AND − MARK ADDED AND REMOVED

+## **Scribd Policies**
+## **Policies**
+## **Does Scribd allow copyright infringements?**
+## **Does Scribd allow copyright infringements on Scribd and SlideShare?**
+**No.** Copyright infringement is illegal and not permitted on Scribd under any circumstances.
+**No.** Copyright infringement is illegal and not permitted under any circumstances.
 ## **Does Scribd delete accounts with infringing content?**
 **Yes.** Scribd automatically deletes the account of repeat infringers on a three-strikes basis. Scribd does not act on requests or demands to remove suspected infringers.
 ## **Why does Scribd allow anyone to upload documents?**
 Scribd understands that some of the most compelling and innovative authors do not have a publishing deal with a major publisher, and that independent authors are in need of services that help empower their ability to distribute their content. While Scribd understands that an "open door" policy occasionally leads to abuse, including copyright infringement, such uses are in the minority. Scribd's services are available to everyone.
 ## **Can Scribd determine copyright ownership?**
+No. Scribd is not able to determine which items on Scribd may or may not infringe copyright. A valid DMCA notification is the minimum that Scribd can accept as proof-of-copyright, even if you reside outside the United States.
+No. Scribd is not able to determine which items on Scribd and SlideShare may or may not infringe copyright. A valid DMCA notification is the minimum that Scribd can accept as proof-of-copyright, even if you reside outside the United States.
 ## **Can I demand the removal of a Scribd member that infringes my content?**
 No. Scribd does not act on requests or demands to remove suspected infringers. Repeat infringers, however, are removed automatically on a three-strikes basis.
 ## **How do I request permission to use content that I find on Scribd?**
+Scribd's members retain the rights to the content they upload to Scribd. Scribd does not serve as a right agent or broker for matters related to permissions and licensing. All queries regarding the licensing of specific documents should be directed to the person that uploaded the content to Scribd. Many members provide contact information on their profile page, but Scribd cannot provide additional contact information. Many authors and publishers feature copyright information and permission instructions on their websites.
+Scribd's members retain the rights to the content they upload to Scribd and SlideShare. Scribd does not serve as a right agent or broker for matters related to permissions and licensing. All queries regarding the licensing of specific documents should be directed to the person that uploaded the content. Many members provide contact information on their profile page, but Scribd cannot provide additional contact information. Many authors and publishers feature copyright information and permission instructions on their websites.
 ## **Copyright**
 ## **What is copyright?**
 Copyright is a form of protection granted by law to authors of original creative works. Copyright applies to any creative expression including a book, photographs, artwork, writing, or recording. A copyright guarantees that the author or rights holder determines who gets to copy, re-use, or alter the original work. In the United States, an original work is under copyright protection from the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyrights can be held exclusively by the creator of the original work, or shared via license with another entity, such as a publisher or agency.
 ### Scribd supports the following copyright licenses:
 <table><tbody><tr><td><img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/copyright.png" alt="Copyright"></td><td><strong>Copyright. All rights reserved.</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Under traditional <strong>copyright</strong>, no one may copy, re-use, build upon, or edit your work in any way without your explicit permission.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by.png" alt="CC BY"></td><td><strong>Attribution (CC BY)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY</strong>&nbsp;lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-sa.png" alt="CC BY-SA"></td><td><strong>Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-SA</strong> lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms. This license is often compared to "copyleft" free and open source software licenses. All new works based on yours will carry the same license, so any derivatives will also allow commercial use. This is the license used by Wikipedia, and is recommended for materials that would benefit from incorporating content from Wikipedia and similarly licensed projects.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nd.png" alt="CC BY-ND"></td><td><strong>Attribution-NoDerivs (CC BY-ND)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-ND</strong> allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to you.</td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nc.png" alt="CC BY-NC"></td><td><strong>Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-NC</strong> lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don't have to license their derivative works on the same terms.</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nc-sa.png" alt="CC BY-NC-SA"></td><td>&nbsp;<strong>Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-NC-SA</strong> lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under the identical terms.</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/cc-by-nc-nd.png" alt="CC BY-NC-ND"></td><td>&nbsp;<strong>Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>CC BY-NC-ND</strong> is the most restrictive of the Creative Commons licenses, only allowing others to download your works and share them with others as long as they credit you, but they can't change them in any way or use them commercially.</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<img src="https://www.scribd.com/images/static/copyright/cc/public-domain.png" alt="Public domain"></td><td>&nbsp;<strong>Public domain</strong></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><strong>Public domain</strong> refers to creative works to which the copyright has expired or been voluntarily forfeited. Copyright restrictions do not apply to works in the public domain. Content in the public domain can be copied, altered, or repurposed by anyone, at any time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>
 ##
+**Can I copyright my work by publishing on Scribd?**
+**Can I copyright my work by publishing on Scribd and SlideShare?**
+In the United States, an original work enjoys protection from copyright infringement from the moment it is created and "fixed in a tangible medium of expression." Publishing to Scribd confers no special status.
+In the United States, an original work enjoys protection from copyright infringement from the moment it is created and "fixed in a tangible medium of expression." Publishing to Scribd and SlideShare confers no special status.
 ## **Can I post copyrighted content if it is intended for educational or non-commercial use?**
 No. There is no exception under United States copyright law for the redistribution of complete copyrighted works for educational or noncommercial purposes. You can be held monetarily liable for copyright infringement, even if you have not received financial compensation for distributing copyrighted content.
 ## **How can I tell if a document I've uploaded infringes someone's copyright?**
 Researching the copyright status of a creative work can be difficult and challenging. While the US copyright office provides a search of its database at [http://www.copyright.gov/records/](http://www.copyright.gov/records/), the records may not be complete and should not be considered a definitive source.
+The basic rule of thumb is, if you did not create a work yourself and you are unsure whether it is copyrighted, then do not upload it to Scribd.
+The basic rule of thumb is, if you did not create a work yourself and you are unsure whether it is copyrighted, then do not upload it.
 ## **Reporting copyright infringements**
 Contents on Scribd.com and in the Scribd app are provided by Scribd's members without pre-approval by Scribd. Scribd takes intellectual property rights very seriously and complies as a service provider with all applicable provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998. We expeditiously remove infringing material when notified and we also terminate repeat infringers pursuant to a "three-strikes" policy. Since Scribd is based in the United States, a notification that complies with DMCA criteria is the minimum that Scribd can accept as proof-of-copyright, even if your country operates under different laws. Scribd cannot process notifications that disregard DMCA criteria and provide incomplete information.
+## **How do I report an infringement of my copyright on Scribd?**
+## **How do I report an infringement of my copyright on Scribd or SlideShare?**
 Use [this form](https://support.scribd.com/hc/en-us/articles/210129146).
 ## **Who can report copyright infringements?**
 Under the DMCA, you may request removal of an alleged copyright infringement only if:
 - You are the creator of content posted to Scribd without your permission
 - You are the duly authorized representative of the rights holder of content posted to Scribd without permission
 These requirements suggest that only rights holders are in a position to know where and how they have authorized their works to appear, and whether they object to the presence of their content at a given location. In compliance with the law, Scribd will only process notifications from rights holders or their agents.
+If you are concerned that a work on Scribd is not authorized by the copyright holder, please contact the author or publisher directly so that they can take the necessary steps to request removal. Many publishers provide special forms or email addresses on their websites for readers concerned about possible infringements.
+If you are concerned that a work on Scribd or SlideShare is not authorized by the copyright holder, please contact the author or publisher directly so that they can take the necessary steps to request removal. Many publishers provide special forms or email addresses on their websites for readers concerned about possible infringements.
 ## **How can I report infringements of other people's work?**
 Scribd cannot accept notifications of copyright infringement from concerned readers or other third parties. If you are concerned that a work on Scribd is not authorized by the copyright holder, please contact the author or publisher directly so that they can take the necessary steps to request removal. Many publishers provide special forms or email addresses on their websites for readers concerned about possible infringements.
 ## **How can I monitor for infringements of my copyright?**