I'm a georgetown law student, can I use online access to the library to access electronic journals for a research project I am doing for an employer?
I am worried about any ethical problems with access the material as a student for a project I am doing for an outside employer. Could you please advise.
Answer
Excellent question. Much of the scholarly material Georgetown Libraries makes available is licensed for personal, non-commercial use only. The border between personal and commercial use may not be clear if, for instance, your class work is similar to that of your job. Blatant data-mining for your employer however, is a clear ethical and licensing violation.
Patrons are welcome to use our resources for scholastic work, and may share material in a scholarly manner when it is permitted. The terms of use are usually posted in the database providing access. In addition, visit our webpage on the responsible use of electronic resources.