Information, Copyright, and Trademark Policies

Information Technology and Media Services Policies

HDS students are required to follow these policies when using Harvard networks, applications, accounts, and/or equipment:

• The HDS Computer Use Policy, which covers the acceptable use of Harvard computing resources and explains the rights and responsibilities of all users. 
• Harvard Information Security Policy, which includes requirements for passwords, use and sharing of confidential information, and protecting devices. Please use these personal device security recommendations to ensure that your personal equipment is compliant with security best practices. 
• The Policy on Access to Electronic Information (PDF) sets out guidelines and processes for University access to user electronic information stored in or transmitted through any University system. The policy applies to all Schools and units of the University. 

Copyright Policy

All Harvard users must respect the copyrights in works that are accessible through computers connected to the Harvard network. Federal copyright law prohibits the reproduction, distribution, public display, or public performance of copyrighted materials without permission of the copyright owner, unless fair use or another exemption under copyright law applies. In appropriate circumstances, Harvard will terminate the network access of users who are found to have repeatedly infringed the copyrights of others and may also take disciplinary action. Information about the application of copyright law to peer-to-peer file sharing of music, movies, and other copyrighted works is available online.

HDS Library Liability for Compliance

Students, staff, faculty, researchers, visitors, and other users who fail to comply with library rules and regulations will be subject to revocation of library privileges and disciplinary action up to and including legal prosecution. Unauthorized removal from the library or damage of any library materials, property, or other resources by a student may lead to the requirement to withdraw from the School. All library users will be subject to the fines and penalties of the Divinity School, the University, and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts governing crimes against property.

Licensed electronic resources are restricted to users of Harvard’s libraries for purposes of research, teaching, and private study. Under Harvard’s licenses for online databases and tools, users generally may not permit anyone other than authorized users to use the licensed materials; modify or create a derivative work of the licensed materials without the permission of the licensor; remove, obscure, or modify any copyright or other notices included in the licensed materials; or use the licensed materials for commercial purposes, including but not limited to the sale of the licensed materials.

Harvard users must respect the copyrights, not only of the library’s material collections, but also of works that are accessible through computers connected to the Harvard network. No copyrighted work may be copied, published, disseminated, displayed, performed, or played without permission of the copyright holder except in accordance with fair use or licensed agreement. This includes music, movies, and all other copyrighted material. Users are individually responsible for compliance with these terms.

Use of Harvard University Trademarks: Names and Insignias

The University’s Policy on the Use of the Harvard Name and Insignias provides that students may use the Harvard name (alone or in conjunction with the name of a specific School or unit) to identify any activity, individual, entity, or publication only with the approval of their Dean or the Provost, except as follows: students generally are permitted to identify themselves in publications or other public activities with an accurate, specific affiliation (e.g., “John Doe, degree candidate, Harvard Divinity School”) so long as this is done in a manner that makes clear they are students and does not imply University endorsement or responsibility for any particular activity, product, or publication involved. Students also need permission to use the Harvard or HDS logo or insignia in any manner. All Harvard student group names incorporating any of the University’s trademarks are owned by the President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard University) and are used by permission of the University. In addition, the use of any of Harvard’s shields/logos by student groups is by permission of the University. Any use of Harvard’s names/logos by student groups or students must comply with all relevant University policies, including the policy on the Use of Harvard Names and Insignias.

Any student-group stationery that uses the Harvard Divinity School name must identify itself on the letterhead as a student organization. The School expects that all students using social media platforms (for example, blogs, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Storify, among many others) with an account that reflects their affiliation as a Harvard or Harvard Divinity School student, will use a professional, personal voice if posting primarily about Harvard or Harvard Divinity School, and will clearly disclose their relationship to the institution. For instance, a blog’s “about the author” page or an X account’s description may contain language like “Student at Harvard Divinity School.”