This paper examines reasons why academic libraries need to educate patrons about copyright. The first section discusses legal reasons, including the protection of intellectual property rights in the U.S. Constitution, copyright legislation, and the doctrine of fair use. The second section considers decreasing profit margins for providers of intellectual property, including publishing and recording industry fights against copyright infringement and for stricter copyright law. The third section states that nobody else is doing instruction about copyright, and it is natural that libraries should take the lead in this area. (MES)