Copyright Compliance Procedures for Medical Images

The Weill Cornell Medical College Library created a Copyright Resources page to assist faculty and staff negotiate the complex issues of copyright compliance in an academic environment. Unique copyright compliance requirements for medical image sources available on the Weill Cornell Medical Library's Electronic Resources are detailed below. These sources fall into three categories (1) those with liberal permission policies and minimum requirements for use (2) government sources in the public domain and (3) sources that require direct approval and permission from the copyright holder.

1. Sources with Liberal Permission Policies and Minimum Usage Requirements

• ARRS Goldminer - uses sophisticated techniques to discover medical concepts in free-text figure captions, and uses that information to quickly retrieve relevant images
• ASH (American Society of Hematology) Image Bank - The American Society of Hematology holds the copyright of all items in the ASH Image Bank. All content is subject to the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws. Weill Cornell faculty may use a reasonable portion of Image Bank content, in printed or digital format, in the preparation of course packs or other educational materials. Downloading, printing, or saving images for the purposes of research, education, or private study by Cornell Faculty and students is permissible. Users agree not to remove, cover, overlay, obscure, block, or change any copyright notices, legends, or terms of use.
• dermatlas (dermatology digital image resource) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Materials presented on dermatlas.com are copyrighted by DermAtlas and individual contributors. Cornell users are free to copy images provided no fee or compensation is charged for copies of or access to this information and copyright notices and the accompanying disclaimers remain attached and credit is given to the DermAtlas. Suggested format: "© DermAtlas; http://www.dermatlas.org." Occasionally the Editorial Board of the DermAtlas will consent to replication of images in scientific and educational publications.

2. Government Sources in the Public Domain

• AnatLine - Government information on National Library of Medicine (NLM) Web sites is in the public domain and may be used freely, however it is requested NLM be given appropriate acknowledgment. Some images have been contributed or licensed by other entities that may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws requires the written permission of individual copyright owners.
• DPDx Parasite Image Library - Division of Parasitic Diseases (CDC) - Images produced by the CDC are in the public domain and may be used freely. However, any images contributed or licensed by other entities may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of these protected items beyond that allowed by the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws requires the written permission of individual copyright owners.
• Genetic Illustrations - Most information on the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Web site genome.gov is in the public domain and can be freely distributed and copied. If used, it is requested that the National Human Genome Research Institute be given an appropriate acknowledgment: "Courtesy: National Human Genome Research Institute." However, any images contributed or licensed by other entities may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of these protected items beyond that allowed by the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws requires the written permission of individual copyright owners. For information about the copyright owners of a given image, please send the URL and file name to the genome.gov webmaster.
• Images from the History of Medicine - Government information on National Library of Medicine (NLM) Web sites is in the public domain and may be used freely, but it is requested NLM be given appropriate acknowledgment. However, any images contributed or licensed by other entities may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of these protected items beyond that allowed by the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
• Public Health Image Library - Images produced by the CDC are in the public domain and may be used freely. However, any images contributed or licensed by other entities may be protected by U.S. and foreign copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of these protected items beyond that allowed by the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws requires the written permission of the copyright owners.

3. Sources with Strict Permission Policies and Limited Usage Requirements

• Digital Atlas of Ophthalmology - New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Department of Ophthalmology - The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary holds copyright on all images. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright laws requires the written permission of individual copyright owners.
• Epact: Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe - All information and images in Epact remain under the strict copyright of Museum of the History of Science, Oxford; Museum of the History of Science, Florence; British Museum, London, and Museum Boerhaave, Leiden. Information and images from Epact may not be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the owner museum.
• Graphics Gallery - Access Excellence Biotech Applied - All material on this website is protected by copyright of Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum. This website also contains material copyrighted by third party contributors. Images are made available for non-commercial, educational use by teachers and students, however graphics, activities, or other materials from Access Excellence may not be copied onto any other web site for any purpose. Users may download images for their own use, subject to these and any additional terms or restrictions which may be provided with an individual image. Use of images must be accompanied by the complete legend and by the URL of the page from which the material was downloaded; Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum cited.
• HON Media - HONmedia is a free service offered by the Health on the Net Foundation and all images on this site remain the property of their author. Permission for the use of any image must be obtained directly from the owner of the material. Each image's origin is clearly identified and HONmedia accesses all images directly from the server of origin.
• PHOTOSHARE - Permission must be sought and given from Photoshare before each and every use of an image. Photoshare images must be properly credited and used in appropriate context. Images may not be copied or stored by any means, electronic or otherwise, except for the purpose for which they were approved.
• TRIP Database - A variety of sources and contributors provide content through the TRIP database. The copyright policy of each source must be reviewed and followed.
• The Whole Brain Atlas - Portions of this work may be individually downloaded, copied, and cited for the personal and educational purposes of individuals and organizations, provided proper attribution and context are given. Commercial reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of the copyright holders, Keith A. Johnson and J. Alex Becker, is forbidden.

Weill Cornell faculty, staff and students who wish to discuss copyright legislation, guidelines, and policies in more detail, may contact the Information Desk.

Email: infodesk@med.cornell.edu / Telephone: 212-746-6055 In-person at the Information Desk (Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM)