Copyright Compliance Policy & Notification Agent
It is the policy of PBS North Carolina to process and investigate notices of alleged copyright infringement promptly, and take appropriate actions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), Title 17, United States Code, Section 512. Pursuant to the DMCA, PBS North Carolina has designated an agent to receive notification of alleged copyright infringement occurring on its websites or computer servers.
If you believe your copyrighted work is being infringed on by a PBS North Carolina site, please notify our designated agent by mail or email (preferable):
Attn: Doug Strasnick
Chief of Staff
PBS North Carolina
10 TW Alexander Drive
RTP, NC 27709
dstrasnick@pbsnc.org
Contents of Notice
PBS North Carolina may not be able to act on your complaint promptly or at all if you do not provide the following information.
The DMCA requires that all notices of alleged copyright infringement must be in writing. When informing the designated agent of an alleged copyright infringement, you must:
- Identify the copyrighted work that allegedly has been infringed. If multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are involved, please provide a list of the works on that site.
- Describe the material that is claimed to be infringing and provide sufficient information to permit PBS North Carolina to locate that material.
- Provide your contact information, including an address, telephone number, and, if available, an email address.
- Certify or include a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use of the copyright-protected material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, the owner's agent, or law.
- Certify that the information that you have provided PBS North Carolina is accurate. You should attest under penalty of perjury that you are authorized to enforce the copyrights that you allege have been infringed.
- Include a physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or person authorized to act on behalf of the owner.
Before you allege an infringement, you should consult copyright materials to confirm that the use, in fact, infringing. The United States Copyright Office provides basic information, online, which can assist you to determine whether an exception or defense, such as fair use, may apply to the use of your copyrighted work.
Notice, Takedown, & Putback Procedure
PBS North Carolina expects all users of its system to comply with applicable copyright laws. However, if PBS North Carolina is notified of a claimed copyright infringement, or otherwise becomes aware of facts and circumstances from which infringement is apparent, it will respond appropriately, which may include removing or disabling access to the material that is claimed to be infringing. PBS North Carolina will follow the procedures outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act with regard to appropriate notifications of the user and the complaining party, acceptance of counter notifications, and, where indicated, "putback" of the alleged infringing material. Refer to the United States Copyright Office for the provisions of the DMCA.
Repeat Infringers
Where it has been clearly established that a PBS North Carolina user is a repeat offender, PBS North Carolina may terminate that person's account.
United States Copyright Law & PBS North Carolina Policy
Individuals who infringe copyright-protected materials on PBS North Carolina networks may be subject to discipline. In appropriate circumstances, penalties for violations of PBS North Carolina Policy may include, but are not limited to, termination of all computing privileges, and use of employee discipline procedures.
Copyright infringement is a violation of federal law and subject to severe civil penalties and sanctions. Copyright infringement can also be a violation of federal criminal law. Thus, every user of PBS North Carolina networks and websites must maintain a basic understanding of copyright law and must comply with PBS North Carolina policies.
For more information on United States copyright law and the DMCA, consult the website of the United States Copyright Office. The United States Copyright Office has a variety of circulars and forms, available online or printed, which can provide answers and guidance to many copyright questions and issues. The United States Copyright Office's Circular 1 has simple, concise, explanations and descriptions of what you must do to keep from infringing copyrights of others, as well as protecting your own creative works. In addition, there are resources available through the library or through a simple web search on copyright.