Introduction to Copyright

(Slide 4)

Ask what does the word ‘Creator’ mean?

Invite students to share their responses. Clarify that a creator is simply someone who creates something, like a photo, a song, or even a dish of food.

Point out to students that they are all creators. Ask: Think about a time you created something, when you wrote down an idea, took a picture or video of something, made a piece of art, or uploaded something you made to the internet. What was it?

Ask: What about a time when you've used someone else's creation online, like an image or a quote from an article?

(Slide 5)

Provide the students with various scenarios and discuss how each would make them feel.

• You entered an art competition and your drawing won first place! Your artwork was hung up for everyone to see, but someone else’s name was on the drawing instead of yours.

• You carried out some research for a work project and presented your findings in a report. Your colleague takes your report and types their name as the author and gives the report to management.

• You write a song and a few months later hear a new song on the radio that sounds like yours with similar lyrics.

(Slide 8)

Ask: Do you think copyright is important? Why does it matter who gets credit for something?

Invite students to respond. Emphasize that in addition to concrete benefits like money or fame, there is also fairness: If someone puts in the effort and time to create something, that person deserves to get the credit and have a say in how it gets used.

Say: As a digital citizen and creator, you have a right to decide how your creative work is copyrighted. But you also have a responsibility in how you use the work of others.