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Life for academic cheats has just become a little harder - Google has banned adverts for essay writing services, amid fears that plagiarism and breaches of copyright are on the increase among students.

Admittedly, it's pretty difficult to get a clear understanding of what is and isn't legal according to copyright law in the UK. The College's Code of Practice on Plagiarism is available in the student handbook, but clear advice on copyright matters is hard to find. The articles listed here - A Students' Guide to Copyright (courtesy of Staffordshire University) and Copyright and the Internet: Myth and Reality - should raise your awareness on some of the issues involved, but if you still have doubts about any items you're using then speak to your subject librarian and we'll help as best we can.

Academic staff can also have concerns about reusing materials for lectures; if you're in this position try looking at the newly-launched and interactive Online Copyright Activity from JISC, which uses scenarios to explain what is and isn't legal. For more detailed advice on copyright matters, JiscLegal offer a free information service for staff working in both further and higher education.