DOCLINE requires that users indicate how each ILL request complies with the copyright law. The two choices are "Guidelines" and "Law".
Guidelines - indicates that the borrower's ILL request complies with U.S copyright law under Section 108, including items borrowed within the CONTU Guidelines "Suggestion of Five".
Use "Guidelines" when you are requesting a photocopy of a journal article where:
- the article was published within the last five years, AND
- your library does not own the journal title, AND
- the article would be the fifth or fewer filled request your library has made for this title within the current calendar year.
Law - indicates that the borrower's ILL request complies with copyright law by being a "Fair Use" under Section 107 of the U.S. law or your country's equivalent of "Fair Use", paying royalties to copyright holder directly or through an agent such as the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC); or requested item is not covered by copyright.
Use "Law" in all other instances of requesting photocopies, for example:
- if the article was published more than five years ago, OR
- if your library owns the journal title, OR
- if the article would be the sixth or greater filled request for this title within the calendar year and your library is paying royalties to the Copyright Clearance Center or other payment mechanism, OR
- if the request complies with copyright law by being a "Fair Use" under Section 107 of the U.S. law or your country's equivalent of "Fair Use"
Important: Libraries are required to comply with copyright law in order to participate in DOCLINE; NLM cannot advise libraries on copyright law. Please refer to your institution's legal counsel, the United States Copyright Office or your country's copyright law. The American Library Association also offers copyright tools.