Copyright Law, Fair Use Act, and Creative Commons

Technology makes it easier to create, access, duplicate, and share information.  That's one of the beauties of our digital world.  However, it is extremely important that teaches and students practice ethical and responsible behavior when it comes to the law.  Copyright laws protect an author's original work.  Fair Use permits use of copyrighted material for educational purposes.  Creative Commons allows the creator to authorize sharing, reusing, remixing, and building on the creative works.  

Understand the laws to ensure legal use of material in and out of the classroom.  

Grade Level Activities:

• Grades K-2

  • Video - Ethics (Who Owns What's on the Internet?)

Discussion: If you post a picture online, who owns it then?  Is it still yours?  Who owns everything else on the Internet?  Is it free and legal to use anything you find on the Internet?  Is there a law that says you can't use what you find on the Internet?  How can you use what you find if you want it?

• Grades 3-5

  • Video - Understanding Copyright, Public Domain, and Fair Use 

  • Video - What are Creative Commons Licenses? 

Discussion: What is plagiarism?  What is citing sources? Why is it important to follow copyright and fair use guidelines when creating and sharing content? What is a creative commons license? 

• Grades 6 -12

  • Video - Fair Use - U.S. Copyright Office 

  • Video - What are Creative Commons Licenses? 

  • Video - Creativity, Copyright, and Fair Use 

  • Video - Copyright on YouTube - Beneficial for students or classrooms that create YouTube videos. 

Discussion: If you want to use free resources what should you search for online? If you created something and posted it online, would you want credit for your hard work? Why is it important to follow copyright and fair use guidelines when creating and sharing content? 

• • Resources for class discussion: 

  • https://www.copyright.gov/

  • Harvard Copyright and Fair Use 

  • https://owl.purdue.edu/