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Copyright at the Fund

FAQ

Data

A: Yes, you do need a source note for all IMF data that you reuse. Ensure that the data has been cleared for external use.


Fair Use

A: Yes. Long quotes and inscriptions should be cleared with the publisher of the work. Excerpted material is not always covered by fair use; and permission to reuse should be requested.
A: Only in narrow instances. Fair use is a much misunderstood part of U.S. copyright law. It is often difficult to predict whether a use will be deemed by a court to be fair use, and fair use generally is not a substitute for copyright compliance.


Images and Recordings

A: Yes, the inserts offered by Microsoft – including photos – are safe to use within the Microsoft suite of products, per Microsoft's statement in this link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/what-am-i-allowed-to-use-premium-creative-content-for-0de69c76-ff2b-473e-b715-4d245e39e895
A: No. Even if you make changes to an image, you should still check the terms of usage and copyright for the owner or hosting organization and get permissions to use the image and alter it.
A: Yes, you need permission.
A: Yes. You will need permission to post the clip indefinitely on a widely-accessible Fund Intranet.
A: Most publishers and media sites have a permissions page. If you can’t find it, request help from the Library or copyright@imf.org.
A: In the United States, you need permission to use the image or likeness of individuals for commercial purposes. The issue will be whether the publication is for commercial use, for example a book that will go on sale. If yes, then you will need the permission of the individuals photographed. In addition, you should not use a photo of someone when the photo (1) appears to disclose embarrassing private facts about the person, (2) creates a false impression to the public about the person, or (3) appears to have been taken when the subject of the photo had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
A: No. The image may still be subject to copyright, although it was found online through a Google search. You should find the original source to determine the terms of usage and see if permission is needed. Alternatively, you can use the IMF Flickr site or contact CSF Creative as they can help you find appropriate images through one of their stock photo services.


Publications

A: No. Never send or post or auto forward an entire newsletter. You may send selected links to other licensed subscribers within the Fund only.
A: It depends on how many users and what kinds of uses are authorized by the publication’s license. If it is a single-user license, generally, you may not duplicate the publication or share with anyone else; and even multi-user or institutional licenses may prohibit you from forwarding copies. However, some licenses permit limited sharing. Review the license terms to find out whether any sharing is permitted, or request help from the Library or copyright@imf.org.
A: You must adhere to the copyright laws of the country where you are using the material, which would be the country of the regional office, and the laws of the countries where the material will be published. In addition, we recommend that you also comply with U.S. copyright laws.
A: Although you plan to use this in a classroom setting, the IMF is not considered an educational institution, so you will need to get permission from the publisher or author.
A: Yes, you need permission for both the book chapter and online images. Even if you are copying only a few pages, you need permission from the publisher. For online images, this may involve permission from both the copyright owner (photographer, photo agency, or other) and the website where you find the image..
A: Select first, and then download only what you need for your work project. You should never download, post, or share an entire issue internally or externally.
A: Yes. You need permission to use or adapt the handbook because it was not created by the U.S. Government. It was prepared by an independent contractor; very likely, there is a copyright notice.


Work for Hire

A: Material produced outside of work hours may need clearance from COM, as well as HRD, Ethics, and your department.
A: Yes. The chapter was based on an IMF Working Paper and incorporates information gathered during the course of your work. The chapter is therefore considered a work made-for-hire, with copyright held by the IMF, and will need to be cleared for external publication by COM. Also, COM will process any copyright forms that the publisher forwards to you.