Copyright law and academic radiology: Rights of authors and copyright owners and reproduction of information

Abstract

Desktop computer hardware and software provide many new and accessible avenues for increased academic productivity [1], but some activities may have legal implications. The advent of technologies such as scanners, the ever-increasing number of electronic bulletin boards, and the development of the information superhighway affect the concept of copyright and require authors and publishers to reconsider their legal rights and obligations when they create or publish new works or modify existing ones. For example, with desktop scanners, almost any image, published or otherwise, can be copied, enhanced, and manipulated [2]. Moreover, many radiologists have access tO copyrighted digital radiologic teaching file images, such as those from the University of Iowa or the University of Washington, which are available (and downloadable) on the Internet [3]. Because downloading (or uploading) a document or image is essentially making a copy of that document or image, copyright laws and the rights that they afford authors are involved. The abilities to copy, manipulate, enhance, reproduce, and store radiologic images raise important questions about applicable copyright and intellectual property laws and what constitutes infringement of the rights afforded authors under these laws. This article summarizes principles of copyright law relevant to academic radiology and describes how copyrighted images, displays of data, or other materials can be reproduced (e.g., copied, duplicated, or transmitted electronically), manipulated (e.g., edited or electronically enhanced), or transferred (e.g., all or certain rights to an image are sold or licensed) without infringing on the rights of copyright owners.