New formats offer the potential for reproducing whole works and rapidly distributing multiple copies. Proprietors of motion pictures or sound media are often highly protective of their works, and copyright owners of other media are simply not accustomed to receiving requests and granting permissions for scholarly needs. If your dissertation ventures into new technological territory, you might be venturing into unfamiliar copyright dilemmas as well. Careful advance planning is essential. UMI receives over 50,000 dissertations each year for publication.
Most works still arrive in print form, but more and more are embodying diverse media.
Nearly fifteen percent of all dissertations submitted to UMI lack all needed permissions . Avoid the agony of that large group. Once you file your dissertation and receive your degree, further revisions would probably be the least welcome task. Look critically at your dissertation, and obtain permissions at the earliest opportunity. Now is the time to develop a good habit.