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Medical Terminology Resources: Open Access vs Copyright

Easy access does not necessarily mean free to reuse, revise, or redistribute.

Free/ Open Access on the internet:  Link to these resources and treat them as copyright protected unless specifically licensed to allow people to use without further permission. Think of content as a piece of property; you do not want to steal.

Government Documents and web content: Although most documents produced by the Federal government are Public Domain and free to use, Government Agencies may  subcontract parts of their website to other businesses that own the copyright to their presentations.  Linking to resources is the easiest way to give access and not get into a copyright research project.

Open Educational Resources: These are more friendly to instructors that want to make multiple copies, edit, re-arrange and tailor resources to their students.  You do need to check the license to see which privileged rights have been opened to the public by the copyright owner.

Library-Subsidized Subscription Resources. Many resources that are hidden behind a paywall - requiring a fee to gain access - are available for free through your local public library or school you attend.  Libraries pay an institutional subscription fee to give access to the members of that institution.

Free to use but...All of these materials used must be attributed: "Courtesy of MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine"

( Copyright 1997-2019, A.D.A.M., Inc. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.)

( Copyright 1997-2019, A.D.A.M., Inc. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.)

Open Access, free to use, but content presentation is copyrighted.

Medical Dictionaries

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