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2 years ago in Scholarly Etiquette By Ramesh

What is the protocol for using or sharing copyrighted material, like a book chapter or a high-quality figure from another paper, in my conference presentation?

I want to use a seminal diagram from a famous paper as a foundational slide in my conference talk. Do I need to email the author for permission, or is citing the source enough? What about photographs or long text excerpts from a copyrighted book?

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By Ridhima Malhotra Answered 3 weeks ago

For conference presentations (non-commercial, educational use), the norm leans heavily on "scholarly sharing" etiquette under fair use, but with strict caveats. Always, always provide a clear citation directly on the slide (Author, Year, Journal). For a single diagram explaining a concept, this is typically acceptable. However, etiquette goes beyond the law: if the figure is highly unique (a custom schematic, a key result image), it is courteous to email the author for permission, which is almost always granted. For book chapters or lengthy text, use only short, critical excerpts with citation. Never use photographs you don't own without explicit permission. The golden rule: if your use would deprive the original author of credit or potential benefit, don't do it. When in doubt, ask; most scholars are flattered and will say yes.

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