COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT
Permission to Use Images in Thesis/Dissertation
You should do your best to research and obtain images from the original source and read about their terms of use,
or obtain images from databases such as Creative Commons or Artsor
that provide proper citation information and
license agreements. You should also do your best to gain permission for the use of images in your thesis or
dissertation where copyright restrictions apply.
However, if you cannot gain permission and wish to use these particular images, you have a solid Fair Use
argument because this is a scholarly work.
If you use images for which you cannot obtain permission, do your “due diligence” and follow the guidelines above
and document your attempts to gain permission. Above all else, proper citation is required when using an image
that you did not create yourself so as to not pass the work off as your own.
What is "Fair Use"?
According the U.S. Copyright Office's factsheet on Fair Use, the rights of copyright owners are subject to
limitations. The doctrine of Fair Use allows users of copyrighted works to reproduce and reuse them in ways that
are considered fair - such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
The Four Factors
Section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law provides four factors to consider when considering whether the use of
copyrighted works is a fair one:
1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for
nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work (e.g., whether it is factual or creative in nature)
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work
Approval is Needed to Use Human Subjects in Research
How do I know if I need IRB approval? Submit form 129 to the IRB https://www.etsu.edu/irb/forms.php
Do not collect data before you have completed these steps and, if necessary, have acquired approval. NOTE:
Human subjects private database use is also subject to IRB review.
Approvals are Needed to Use Animals, Drugs, DNA, Radiation, and Hazardous Material in
Research
Visit the Biosafety website for more information: https://www.etsu.edu/research/biosafety/