Skip to Main Content UMKC University Libraries

Copyright Law - Research

Research Guide Created for Prof. Callister's Copyright Course

Define the Kind of Problem by Type

"Problem typing" sets the research up to choose the types of resources that best match the problem.  Below are various types of problems.  Often most legal research involves Subject problem types, which require different resources, such as secondary sources to resolve.

Chart of Problem Types

*The table is based upon a similar taxonomy developed in Jean L. Sears & Marilyn K. Moody, Using Government Information Sources: Print and Electronic 6-9 (2nd ed., 1994).

Resources by Type

Table of Primary, Secondary, and Combined Resources

The Research Cycle in Copyright