Georgetown University Course Materials Proper Use and Copyright Reminder

Posted in Communication Student Communications

October 9, 2026

Dear Georgetown Students,

Now that the semester is underway, we want to take a moment to remind you of your responsibilities when using Course Materials. Course Materials — including but not limited to 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.

Georgetown takes steps to prevent and address unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials through its policies, network practices, educational resources and procedures for responding to reported copyright violations, including illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing on university networks.

These responsibilities apply regardless of the technology or platform used. They also work alongside Georgetown’s expectations for academic integrity. Permitted uses of generative AI may vary by course and assignment. Students should follow their instructor’s requirements and applicable academic integrity policies when using these tools in their academic work.

If you have questions, please contact Joe Williams (joe.williams@georgetown.edu), Associate University Librarian for Scholarly Resources & Services. For GUMC users, please contact Katherine Greene (kg615@georgetown.edu), Associate Director for Resources and Copyright Support at the Dahlgren Memorial Library.

Additional Resources
• Copyright & Intellectual Property
• Copyright at GUMC
• Computer Acceptable Use Policy
• Georgetown Honor 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 meeting these requirements while supporting the responsible use of technology and protecting intellectual property.

Warm regards,

Annamarie Bianco
Associate Vice President and University Registrar