Georgetown University Course Materials Proper Use and Copyright

February 20, 2026

Dear Georgetown Students,

As the semester begins, we remind you of your responsibilities regarding the proper use of Course Materials. Course Materials—including syllabi, assignments, exams, lecture notes, videos, audio recordings, and presentations—are generally the intellectual property of your instructors and are provided solely for your academic use as an enrolled student. These materials may not be copied, uploaded, shared, or otherwise distributed (including through websites, file-sharing platforms, tutoring sites, or AI tools such as ChatGPT) without explicit permission.

Published readings made available through Canvas or Blackboard are typically licensed or provided under fair use and also may not be further reproduced or distributed.

Using online tutoring or study-material platforms that encourage uploading copyrighted or instructor-created content may violate federal law, Georgetown’s computer-use and copyright policies, and the Georgetown Honor System. Students who engage in such activities may face disciplinary action as well as potential legal consequences.

If you have questions, please contact Ryan Johnson (rj425@georgetown.edu), Head of Research Services. For GUMC users, please contact Katherine Greene, Associate Director for Resources and Copyright Support at the Dahlgren Memorial Library.

Additional Resources

• Copyright & Intellectual Property: https://www.library.georgetown.edu/copyright
• Copyright at GUMC: https://guides.dml.georgetown.edu/copyright_gumc
• Computer Acceptable Use Policy: https://security.georgetown.edu/it-policies-procedures/computer-systems-aup
• Georgetown Honor System: https://honorcouncil.georgetown.edu/system

This message is being sent in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). The HEOA requires colleges and universities to provide an annual disclosure informing students that the illegal distribution of copyrighted materials may subject them to civil and criminal penalties, and to describe the steps institutions take to detect and address unauthorized distribution, including illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing on campus networks. Georgetown University is committed to supporting these requirements and protecting intellectual property.

Warm regards,
Annamarie Bianco
Associate Vice President and University Registrar