Research Guides: Licensed Electronic Resources: Responsible Use

Introduction

When you're relying on the UCI Libraries' licensed electronic resources (i.e. databases, eJournals, eBooks, etc.), how do you know what is or isn't acceptable access and use? Below you'll find the answers you need to use those resources responsibly.

Usage Policy

Conditions of Use and Licensing Restrictions for Electronic Resources

The UCI Libraries support teaching and learning by providing a rich array of library collections, including electronic resources (e.g. databases, eJournals, eBooks, etc.). Many of the electronic resources available through the UC Irvine Libraries are governed by license agreements.

Vendors' license agreements restrict:

1. Who can access e-resources.

License agreements typically restrict use to current UCI students, faculty, staff and in most cases others who access material from terminals located on the UCI campus.

2. How their resources may be used.

You are responsible for using vendors’ licensed resources (in accordance with license agreements and U.S. copyright law) for personal, educational, non-commercial purposes.

Examples of typically acceptable and unacceptable uses of e-resources.
TYPICALLY ACCEPTABLE	UNACCEPTABLE
Downloading, copying, or printing limited amounts of content (e.g. single journal articles, single book chapters.)	Downloading, copying, or printing significant amounts of content (e.g. entire journal issues, entire books). Using software designed to automatically download and/or copy (i.e. mine) content.
Sharing the URL to the publisher's version of the article on a class website (publisher links grant access only to authorized users).	Sharing content such that unauthorized users can access it, e.g. posting an article on publicly accessible web pages, mailing lists, bulletin boards, social media, etc. Giving your UCInetID and password to unauthorized users, or logging into electronic resources on behalf of unauthorized users.
Using content for your research, instruction, class/coursework, learning, or personal enrichment.	Using or selling content for your profit or your employer’s profit.

These are some of the possible consequences of violating our license agreements:

Your access to the resources gets suspended.
The vendor suspends UCI campus access, either temporarily or permanently.
The vendor takes legal action.

Responsible Use Guidance for Entrepreneurship & Business

You are responsible for using the UCI Libraries’ licensed electronic resources in accordance with the UCI Libraries Conditions of Use and Licensing Restrictions.

This chart helps you interpret the “non-commercial” aspect of that usage policy. This chart does not constitute legal advice and is for informational purposes only.

Examples of non-commercial vs. commercial use of e-resources.
TYPICALLY ACCEPTABLE: NON-COMMERCIAL USE	UNACCEPTABLE: COMMERCIAL USE
Entrepreneurship Using content in the research phase for a new venture (i.e. a business/organization).	Entrepreneurship Using content in lieu of the business/organization itself purchasing the content.
Internships & Other Activities for Academic Credit Providing deliverables as part of your internship that include minimal excerpts or summaries of content, with proper citations. Remember: Share what you learned, not what you found! This guidance also applies to students conducting other academic activities, e.g. for-credit consulting.	Internships & Other Activities for Academic Credit Providing content to your employer, in lieu of your employer purchasing the content themselves. Content examples include: Vendors' proprietary reports Exports of search results Lists of companies This guidance also applies to students conducting other academic activities, e.g. for-credit consulting.
Career Exploration Preparing yourself by searching for work opportunities, developing industry knowledge or technical skills, and conducting pre-interview research.	Career Internships or Jobs Providing content to your employer in lieu of your employer purchasing the content themselves. Content examples include: Vendors' proprietary reports Exports of search results Lists of companies

Questions? Ask Your Librarians!

Annette Buckley [she/her]
Business & Economics Librarian
annetteb@uci.edu | (949) 824 - 0360
Visit the Business Research Guide
Due to question volume, my response time may be about 48 business hours.

Sara Heimann [she/her]
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Librarian
sheimann@uci.edu | (949) 824 - 2205
Visit the Entrepreneurship Research Guide