Search the Copyright Web Site

Search Tips

• Use the operators AND, OR, or NOT between terms. Use upper or lowercase.
  Type AND between each term to find both (or all) of the words.
          Example: web and download* (the * is a wildcard)
  Type OR between each term to find either term.
          Example: duration or length
  Type NOT between terms to find the first, but not the second term.
         Example: reserve not "course reserve" (use NOT with caution)

• Adjacent terms (or terms placed in quotes) are searched as a phrase.
          Example: public domain (or try "public domain")

• Wildcards: Asterick (*) finds zero or more characters. Question mark (?) finds one character. Wildcards may be used anywhere in the word.
          Example: deriv* finds derive, derivative, derivatives, etc.
          Example: dis? finds disc or disk, but not discussion, discourse, etc.
          Example: theat?? finds theater or theatre, but not theaters or theatres
  

• These elements can be combined. Use parentheses to clarify the search.
          Example: fair use and four factors
          Example: permission and (obtain* or get)
          Example: (audio or music) not "digital audio reserve"

Additional Notes

• The search reads operators from left to right.
• The AND operator takes precedence over the OR operator.
• Terms enclosed in parentheses are evaluated first; innermost parentheses are evaluated first when there are nested parentheses.
• To search for the actual words AND, OR, or NOT, enclose the term in double quotation marks.
          Example: facts "and" ideas (also try"facts and ideas")