Copyright for Students

What you should know before you copy . . .

Why is Copyright important?

• You would want to protect anything you own

• Creators want to protect their works

• Provides incentive to create new works

• Guarantees that creators will be paid for the use of their works

Internet• Information found on the Internet is copyrighted

unless it is accompanied by a statement explicitly permitting duplication.

• This includes text (e.g., postings to newsgroups, e-mail messages), images, photographs, music, video clips, and computer software.

• Copying ideas, facts, or information in your own words is not copyright infringement.

• Where a work has been placed on the Internet with the message that it can be freely copied, there is an actual license to copy the work.

Can . . . Should?

• Technology allows easy duplication of many resources.

• Because it is easy . . . it is not necessarily legal to make the copy.

• Just because you can make copies does not mean you may make copies.

Types of Infringement• Innocent

– You have made every effort to comply with copyright law by following guidelines

– You have unknowingly overlooked something

• Standard– You have made no effort to become informed about

copyright law– You have made no effort to comply with copyright law and

guidelines

• Willful– You are aware of the law and the guidelines but choose to

disregard them

Infringement Penalties

• $500 to $20,000 per work infringed upon

• Up to $100,000 in cases of willful infringement

• $20,000 per violation per day in cases of computer software

Infringement Lawsuits

• The person who violates the law is the primary offender

• Anyone who has knowledge of the infringement may be named as a secondary offender (contributory and/or vicarious infringers)

Infringement Discovery

• Some companies require sales representatives to report any copyright infringements they observe

• Discovery of infringements can be as simple as a parent or visitor to the school noticing a violation and reporting it

Steps to Take

• Plan your project well in advance of the deadline

• Request permission from copyright holders• Do not assume you may use any and all

material without asking permission• Learn about the limitations listed in the

guidelines for different types of media• Follow the guidelines for different types of

media

Did you know . . . ?• Computer software violations are a felony.• “Bounty-hunters” are hired by some companies to

identify and report copyright violations.• A limit of one image per book or periodical issue may

be used in a project or report.• Music from CD’s may not be dubbed or copied to a

cassette tape.• Compiling video clips from several different videos is

a violation of copyright guidelines.• Information found on the Internet is copyrighted

unless accompanied by a message explicitly permitting duplication

Sources• “Schools and Copyright: What do students

need to know to protect themselves from copyright violations?”, Lisa Walters, DESE, Library Media Consultant, Missiouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

• “Copyright Applies to Everyone,” Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2000

• “Copyright Matters! Some Key Questions and Answers for Teachers”