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Can I reproduce federal government works in my papers, presentations and dissertation/thesis?

A government work is generally not subject to copyright in the United States, and there is typically no copyright restriction on reproduction, derivative works, distribution, performance, or display of a government work. However, it is important to note that there are exceptions to this. Before you use a federal government work (image, chart, table, document, etc.), it is imperative that you check to make sure it does not fall under one of the exceptions included in federal copyright guidelines (e.g., U.S. Government Copyright Guidelines).

In most circumstances, you should be within the limits of the law to reproduce government material as long as you cite it properly.

Please note that this information only serves as guidance. For information on how to properly cite in APA Style, please use Academic Writer. Use the Academic Success Center website to learn about coaching and access writing, statistics, editing, and APA Style resources. 

For questions about academic coaching services, please contact the Academic Success Center via their Ask a Coach page. On this page, you can search their FAQs, ask a question, or chat live with a coach via ASC Chat.




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