The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies and other reproductions of copyrighted material.
The person making and/or distributing such material is liable for any infringement. Learn about copyright basics and more from the United States Copyright Office.
Copyright and intellectual property is a part of publishing when it comes to authors' rights and any time a new work (scholarly or creative) is created in an academic setting. Students have rights too. See Columbia's units for Faculty and Students on relevant copyright information.