Bloomberg Industry Group Copyright and Usage Guidelines
Copyright
Q: What is copyright?
A: United States law gives copyright owners Bloomberg Industry Group the exclusive right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute, perform, and publicly display a copyright work. The laws are intended to protect the owner’s intellectual property in the work, and to protect print and electronic works, such as publications, books, Web-based applications, videos, and software. Works are protected even if they are not registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, or do not carry the copyright symbol “©”. Generally, copying of copyrighted materials is not allowed, whether done by photocopying or electronic means (e.g., e-mailing or faxing an article), unless permission or license has been obtained or the copying falls under an exception such as “fair use,” as defined by the copyright laws, for purposes such as criticism, comment, background research, or teaching.
Q: Why should I be concerned about copyright? Are there consequences for infringement?
A: All Bloomberg Industry Group products of Bloomberg Industry Group and its affiliates (“Bloomberg Industry Group”) contain proprietary content and/or software that are protected by copyright and other similar laws, both in the US and abroad. Bloomberg Industry Group claims copyright protection for all material that has been written or enhanced as a result of the creative efforts of Bloomberg Industry Group’s editorial staff or indexers. Bloomberg Industry Group does not claim copyright in United States government works, although Bloomberg Industry Group does claim copyright for the compilation, selection, coordination, and arrangement of such material.
Q: Why does Bloomberg Industry Group have such detailed Copyright and Usage Guidelines?
A: We have clear and comprehensive Guidelines to assist our customers in understanding what “limited amounts” of redistribution means and obtaining the maximum value from Bloomberg Industry Group products. Bloomberg Industry Group recognizes that some customers desire to redistribute content from Bloomberg Industry Group products, and that customers want an understanding of what they can or cannot do with a Bloomberg Industry Group product. Many of these questions are based on inquiries we have received over the years. While not every situation can be addressed, we have tried to address Bloomberg Industry Group customers’ evolving business needs while helping them comply with copyright laws. Bloomberg Industry Group’s permitted uses are intended to be broader than permitted uses under the copyright laws alone.
Q: Will the Bloomberg Industry Group Copyright and Usage Guidelines be revised?
A: Bloomberg Industry Group reserves the right to revise the Bloomberg Industry Group Copyright and Usage Guidelines at any time. While we do not expect to revise them on a frequent basis, we may update them as necessary to clarify specific answers and to respond to frequently asked questions.
Permitted Uses (Print and Electronic Products)
Q: How much content can I redistribute from a Bloomberg Industry Group product or subscription?
A: You may distribute a limited amount of content from Bloomberg Industry Group products and subscriptions to non-authorized users (and any amount to authorized users of the applicable product). Subject to any more specific guidelines below, Bloomberg Industry Group defines a “limited amount” as a de minimis amount and/or type of content or information, in quantity, frequency of distribution and/or scope of distribution, as determined by Bloomberg Industry Group in its sole judgment.
Q: What does “limited amount” mean as to distributing documents relating to individual Bloomberg Industry Group publications?
Bloomberg Industry Group permits a user to distribute up to five (5) documents (e.g., articles, enhanced case opinions, treatise sections) from each Bloomberg Industry Group publication or subscription, provided that such distribution is limited to a small group of recipients and such recipients agree not to further distribute the documents. Such limitation, however, would not apply to the extent recipients possess an applicable license to the underlying product or service.
Another example is that an attorney may e-mail an article from Bloomberg Industry Group’s Intellectual Property Law News™ to a small group of co-workers or clients, but not to the entire firm or the firm’s entire client list. The attorney may do this with a maximum of five articles from that publication or subscription during a 12-month period. Additionally, the co-workers and/or clients need to agree not to further distribute the article.
Q: What does “limited amount” mean as to distributing documents under a subscription to Bloomberg Law®?
A: As Bloomberg Law® consists of many different Bloomberg Industry Group publications, the annual per person maximum permitted distribution set forth above is increased to 25 documents, except that a Bloomberg Law Library User License permits the licensed user to distribute up to 150 documents annually.
Q: May I make a print copy of a Bloomberg Industry Group article for selected clients or someone in another office?
A: Yes, but only in a “limited amount” and with proper attribution to Bloomberg Industry Group. Please contact permissions@bloomberglaw.com for additional information regarding such attribution.
Q: May I make copies of an article from Bloomberg Industry Group’s print publications solely for my files?
A: Yes, but only as necessary in the ordinary course of your work.
Q: May I copy, e-mail, or fax an entire issue of a publication?
A: No. You may never make copies of or transmit the entire contents of a Bloomberg Industry Group publication, even if you have a Copyright Clearance Center® (CCC) Annual License. It does not matter whether the publication is in print or electronic form or if the copying or transmission is done on a one-time basis.
Q: May I distribute dockets to co-workers and clients?
A: Yes. You may distribute dockets to co-workers and clients in the ordinary course of your work. The “limited amount” restriction, as mentioned above, does not apply to such distribution of dockets.
Q: We keep our print US Income Portfolios in the library and route the Table of Contents. May employees regularly come to the library and make copies of pertinent pages? May I (or a designated individual, e.g., paralegal, librarian, assistant) review the Bloomberg Industry Group publication and distribute selected copies of it to share with staff?
A: No. You may not copy or distribute (including by email) articles, publications and/or sections of the same on a systematic, routine or regular basis, even if you have a CCC Annual License (as defined below). If you want to copy and distribute articles and/or sections on a systematic, routine or regular basis, you will need to purchase additional print copies or licenses, even if you have a CCC Annual License. Please contact your Bloomberg Industry Group representative for more information.
Q: Why am I not allowed to copy or e-mail the Highlights or similar summary sections of Bloomberg Industry Group publications?
A: In each issue of most Bloomberg Industry Group publications, the first few pages (print or web) contain article summaries and/or headlines relating to the contents of that issue. Depending on the particular publication or delivery format, these summaries may be entitled “Highlights,” “In this Issue,” “Also in the News,” “Headlines,” or “Headlines with Summaries.” To distinguish these sections from the full-text articles themselves, Bloomberg Industry Group sometimes refers to them simply as Highlights or Table of Contents. However, these sections are far from a typical table of contents that merely lists the contents of a book or other publication. Rather, these sections are original and proprietary works protected by copyright laws. If you want to copy or distribute sections on a systematic, routine or regular basis, you will need to purchase additional print copies or licenses, even if you have a CCC Annual License. Please contact your Bloomberg Industry Group representative for more information.
Q: Do we need to get permission to quote a sentence or two from a Bloomberg Industry Group publication?
A: No. Permission is not needed for occasionally quoting a small portion of a Bloomberg Industry Group article (e.g., a few sentences or a paragraph). However, in keeping with good citation practice, you should always give proper attribution to the Bloomberg Industry Group publication (i.e., full publication title, full article title, date and page number).
Q: May we make and send out copies of an article that was written by one of our attorneys or that discusses our company? Can we post the article on our website or include it in a client newsletter? Does it matter if we have a CCC Annual License?
A: No. You must obtain permission by contacting the Permissions Department at Bloomberg Industry Group (permissions@bloomberglaw.com). Bloomberg Industry Group can provide you with a PDF (electronic) version of the requested article, complete with the Bloomberg Industry Group logo and appropriate reprint language. Because this is external distribution, permission would be required even if you have a CCC Annual License.
Q: May we post or include a copy of a Bloomberg Industry Group article on our firm’s website, client-firm extranet or client newsletter? Does it matter if we have a CCC Annual license?
A: No. You must obtain permission by contacting the Permissions Department at Bloomberg Industry Group (permissions@bloomberglaw.com). Bloomberg Industry Group can provide you with a PDF (electronic) version of the requested article, complete with the Bloomberg Industry Group logo and appropriate reprint language. Because this is external distribution, permission would be required even if you have a CCC Annual License.
Q: May I summarize a Bloomberg Industry Group article and then post it on a web site or include it in a client newsletter?
A: No. In summarizing the Bloomberg Industry Group article, you would be making a derivative work of copyrighted material, which is not permitted.
Q: If I want to copy, reuse or distribute Bloomberg Industry Group content in other ways, what should I do?
A: Bloomberg Industry Group offers customer license arrangements to accommodate customers’ individual information needs. Please contact your Bloomberg Industry Group representative for more information.
Licensed Electronic Products
Q: What is an electronic product?
A: A Bloomberg Industry Group electronic product is a publication or service that is delivered through an electronic medium (e.g., e-mail, the Web, CD-ROM, etc.). Use is limited to authorized users and is governed by the type of license you have with Bloomberg Industry Group. Access by anyone who is not an authorized user is not allowed. Authorized users may not distribute any part of the product (e.g., e-mail, post on a web site), except in limited amounts and with proper attribution to Bloomberg Industry Group.
Q: What can I do with an electronic product?
A: If you are an authorized user, you may:
- view the publication on screen;
- download small portions of the publication for individual or personal reference;
- print paper copies for individual or personal use;
- make copies of articles or excerpts of the publication for the preservation of research supporting legal or tax opinions, memoranda, court filings, tax returns, or similar documents, and may provide copies of such supporting research to third party advisors, including accountants, attorneys, and auditors, for review purposes; and
- if Bloomberg Industry Group is properly credited, in limited amounts:
- reproduce limited quantities of the data for internal or interoffice distribution or use only; and
- include or distribute small portions in memoranda and reports for internal use or selected clients.
Q: Can anyone access and use a Bloomberg Industry Group electronic product?
A: No. Users must be authorized under the appropriate license agreement. Bloomberg Industry Group offers different license models depending on your organization’s needs. Access by people other than the authorized users is not allowed. Passwords to Bloomberg Industry Group electronic products are for individual authorized use only, and are not to be shared with anyone else, even on a one-time basis.
Q: May I occasionally share my password to Bloomberg Industry Group electronic products with another employee?
A: No. Passwords are for individual authorized use only and cannot be shared with another employee or anyone else, even on a one-time basis.
Q: We have a single user license to the Web-based version of Daily Labor Report, and I receive the daily e-mail Highlights. May I forward this e-mail or print copies for distribution to other people in my office?
A: No, unless it is in limited amounts. If you want to copy and distribute or e-mail sections or articles on a systematic, routine or regular basis, you will need to purchase additional copies or appropriate licenses, even if you have a CCC Annual License. Please contact your Bloomberg Industry Group representative for more information.
Permissions
Q: How do I obtain reprint permission? Can I simply give credit to Bloomberg Industry Group?
A: Simply giving credit to Bloomberg Industry Group is not sufficient. Unless a particular use is allowed under the copyright laws or these Guidelines, you will need to request specific permission by contacting the Permissions Department at Bloomberg Industry Group (permissions@bloomberglaw.com). In your request, be sure to include the following information: (1) your name, company, mailing address, e-mail and telephone number; (2) name of the Bloomberg Industry Group publication, issue date, page number(s) and headline; (3) reason for request; and (4) the approximate number of copies to be made or URL address (if posting to a website).
Q: Why must I seek permission?
A: If a specific use of a Bloomberg Industry Group product is not authorized under these Guidelines, obtaining permission protects yourself and/or your employer from potential claims of copyright infringement. Bloomberg Industry Group will provide you with a PDF (electronic) version of the requested article, complete with the Bloomberg Industry Group logo and appropriate reprint language. Except as expressly thereby authorized, customers also should not use the trademarks, trade names or service marks of Bloomberg Industry Group in any manner that creates the impression that such names or marks are identified with the customer.
Q: Whom should I contact for permission?
A: Bloomberg Industry Group Library, permissions@bloomberglaw.com
Copyright Clearance Center
Q: What is the Copyright Clearance Center® (CCC)?
A: The Copyright Clearance Center (www.copyright.com) offers licenses that permit licensees to reuse and distribute Bloomberg Industry Group publications. Licensees pay fees to CCC which then compensates Bloomberg Industry Group for such reuse. CCC’s goal is to provide an efficient way for businesses to comply with copyright laws. It is not intended to provide a substitute for an appropriate subscription or license.
CCC offers different types of licenses including the Transactional License, which permits copying on a per-transaction basis, and the Annual Enterprise License (“CCC Annual License”) that gives the licensee an enterprise-wide license to copy and distribute copyrighted works, within limits.
Q: What is the code on each page?
A: The ISSN or ISBN code, which the Copyright Clearance Center uses to identify the publication and publisher, appears at the bottom of each page or the top of each electronic article. The charge for lawful reproduction made through a CCC Transactional License or directly to Bloomberg Industry Group is currently $1.00 per page per copy for nonacademic use or for those who do not have a CCC Annual License. Only portions of a publication may be copied and internally used upon payment of the fee. In no event may the entire issue or section be copied, even if the fee is paid. Payment of the CCC fees negates the need for seeking permission from Bloomberg Industry Group.
Q: What can I do with Bloomberg Industry Group products if I have a CCC Annual License?
A: You may do the following internal copying and distribution:
- Copy and give or e-mail an article to co-workers.
- Distribute copies of published articles at internal meetings.
- Post excerpts of industry research on corporate intranet sites.
- Download content for use at company meetings.
Q: Are there some things I cannot do even if I have a CCC Annual License?
A: Yes. A CCC Annual License has restrictions on reuse and distribution. It is not intended to bypass the terms of your Bloomberg Industry Group subscription or license. Further, it is never intended to serve as a replacement for additional subscriptions or licenses.
Regardless of whether you have such a license, you cannot do the following even if done internally:
- Copy and distribute articles on a systematic, routine or regular basis.
- Copy or e-mail the Bloomberg Industry Group Highlights or “In This Issue” on a systematic, routine or regular basis.
- Copy and distribute articles to individuals outside of your organization.
- Alter or manipulate the material in any way.
- Use Bloomberg Industry Group publications to create a clipping service.
- Create searchable libraries.
- Reuse a Bloomberg Industry Group publication as a substitute for an additional subscription or license.
- Reproduce a Bloomberg Industry Group publication in its entirety for any reason.
- Scan a Bloomberg Industry Group article for internal distribution.
Q: Does my CCC Annual License cover both print and electronic Bloomberg Industry Group subscriptions?
A: Yes, both Bloomberg Industry Group print and electronic publications are registered with CCC, which means that licensees with the appropriate CCC license may copy and distribute print and electronic Bloomberg Industry Group articles. If you have a digital distribution license, you may copy and distribute the articles in print and electronic form. However, you should check to see if your organization has a license for both print copy and electronic distribution.
Q: I can’t find an answer to my question on permitted usage. Who should I contact?
A: You should contact the following appropriate Permissions representative if you have any doubt about a proposed use:
Bloomberg Industry Group Library, permissions@bloomberglaw.com
Revised November 2019