Copyright Issues
When using and storing information it is important to consider the constraints imposed by copyright legislation.
Copyright is a complex issue but essentially copyright (the ownership of a piece of original work for a defined period of time) is given to the creator of a piece of intellectual property.
Copyright can belong either to the author or a publisher and legislation is in place both to protect them and to allow the public to have access to knowledge.
How does this affect you?
When you create a paper collection of literature on food science, it is important to remember that the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998 does not permit multiple photocopying of articles without payment.
In the case of online journals and databases, the practice of downloading and storing files is usually covered by a license agreement in place between the data owner and the subscribing institution. For example, some publishers and database producers will allow the storage of files for personal use but will forbid the subsequent transfer to any third parties.
The issue of copyright remains complex and is continually evolving. If you are in any doubt about what you can legally download and store on your PC, it is worth taking legal advice, consulting your library or seeking the advice of an information professional.