Copyright Policies and Sanctions
Summary of the Intellectual Property Rights Policy
Disclaimer
(The following summary of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy is designed to assist students in understanding the key points of the policy. Note: the summary is not the full IPR Policy. A copy of the full IPR Policy is available for your use at the following offices: the Office of the Administrative Dean at SAGU AIC, and on SAGU’s main campus: Student Development Office, Library, Media Services Office, Communication Arts Department, Music Department, Academics Office, College of Arts& Professions, College of Bible & Church Ministries, and School of Graduate Studies.)
Unauthorized or unlicensed copying of copyrighted materials (books, periodicals, audio or video programs, or software of any type) is prohibited by federal and international law. Persons conducting such copying or using improperly acquired materials are subject to disciplinary procedures.
When SAGU AIC receives a copyright infringement claim involving music, video, software, or other digital materials, it takes the following steps under the 1998 federal statute known as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or DMCA:
- we check network usage logs and registration information to examine the system alleged to be involved in copyright infringement and we identify the person using it;
- we suspend the system’s Internet access;
- we notify the copyright holder (or agent) that we are handling the infringement claim under the guidelines of the DMCA;
- we DO NOT disclose the user’s identity;
- We inform the user that an infringement claim has been made and ask if the user has downloaded or shared the copyrighted material in question without permission.
Offenders will be referred to the Administrative Team at SAGU AIC and offenders will be dealt with appropriately ranging from a written warning up to suspension or expulsion from the institution. Offenders are also subject to any pertaining civil or federal liabilities.
