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Vinyl Cutter Policies

Purpose

This policy establishes the guidelines for the safe and appropriate use of the vinyl cutting equipment available at The University of Scranton IDEA Center.

The vinyl cutter is available for cutting approved adhesive vinyl, heat-transfer vinyl, and similar thin sheet materials for educational, creative, and professional purposes.

Policies

  1. Vinyl cutting services may only be used for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, as well as University policies.
  2. The vinyl cutter may not be used to produce signage, graphics, or designs that are obscene, harmful, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate. Staff, in their sole discretion, may decline or terminate any job inconsistent with University policy or community standards.
  3. Users must respect intellectual property rights. No copyrighted, trademarked, or patented designs may be reproduced without written permission.
  4. All projects must respect the intellectual property rights of others; no copyrighted, trademarked, or patented designs may be reproduced without permission.
  5. Only authorized IDEA Center staff may operate the vinyl cutter. Users are not permitted to alter machine settings or attempt self-repair.
  6. Only approved materials may be used; unapproved vinyl or materials that could damage the cutter are prohibited.

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled University of Scranton students, faculty, and staff may submit vinyl cutting requests.
  • Community members may be permitted to use the vinyl cutter with prior approval from the Director of the IDEA Center, provided their use aligns with the University's educational and community-engagement mission. Usage fees may apply.

Availability

Vinyl cutting services are available during IDEA Center operating hours. Larger or longer jobs may be scheduled overnight or outside of peak hours to maximize access for all users.

Projects are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, with academic projects receiving priority over personal or recreational projects.

Payments

University of Scranton students, faculty, and staff may use the vinyl cutter without a fee for academic projects.

For personal or community projects, material and usage fees may apply. Pricing is determined by job size, material type, and cutting time. Payments must be made in full before projects are released.

Disclaimer

The University disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, regarding the vinyl cutter and any resulting products. The University is not liable for damages resulting from the use, misuse, or function of cut vinyl products.

Users are responsible for ensuring they hold all necessary rights to their designs and are liable for any intellectual property claims. The University does not guarantee confidentiality, data security, or specific equipment performance, and is not responsible for loss, corruption, or damage to digital files.

Additional Vinyl Cutter Rules

  • Only approved adhesive or heat-transfer vinyl is permitted. Other materials that could damage the machine (e.g., cardboard, laminated materials, or untested plastics) are prohibited.
  • Users may not attempt to bypass blade safety covers or operate the cutter independently.
  • Staff reserve the right to stop or decline a job if it compromises machine function or safety.
  • Projects produced with IDEA Center equipment may not be represented as officially affiliated with The University of Scranton unless specifically approved.

Copyright law under Title 17 of the United States Code, patent law under Title 35 of the United States Code, and other intellectual property laws of the United States may govern the making of photocopies or other reproductions of content. Under 17 U.S.C. § 108(f)(2) the provision of unsupervised photocopy or reproducing equipment for use by patrons does not excuse the person who uses the reproduction equipment from liability for copyright infringement for any such act, or for any later use of such copy or phonorecord, if it exceeds fair use as provided by 17 U.S.C. § 107. Nor does it excuse the person who uses the reproducing equipment from liability for patent, tort or other laws.

This institution reserves the right to refuse to make available or provide access to photocopy or other reproducing equipment if, in its judgment, use of such equipment would involve violation of copyright, patent or other laws.

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