Be Aware not Unfair
Resources on the internet are easily assessible which can make using images, sounds, music, videos, and text easy to use for personal and professional projects. Always ask via email or written communication for permission from the publisher, author, or creator to use their work. Be respectful, use the smallest amount of someone's work and credit the resource in your project.
ALWAYS when using online resources, the links should connect the user to the original work when citing credit OR embedding a link
Creators vs Consumers-What is the Difference... So much
Creators
Are original and unique to create THEIR message
Creators own the copyright to their own creations
Employs critical thinking skills in designing images or text to convey a message-drawing, text,
composing, graphic editing etc.
Consumers
Duplicate someone elses work
Not original, it shares someone elses message
Tools for finding Free to Use and Share online resources-be sure to ask permission and credit sources in your project
Google Search Tool for Images
Explore Tool
Understand what an Audience is
Personal use means a single user, not a classroom or public audience. Keep in mind online sites like Google Classroom, Schoology, YouTube, or sites that require a login with a username and password are NOT private, they are secure. Sharing copywritten material on a secure site may violate copyright as anyone in the area of the secured login user can view and have resources shared. When there is a mix of people in a group that are NOT all related, this is considered a public audience. An example would be a movie theather audience or a classroom.
Check Terms of Service for Free or Paid Resources and Tools
Many online products you can use for FREE don't always grant permission for their images, sounds, songs, videos etc. to be SHARED with others online. They are only for personal use not to be distrubuted online to others. HINT: if you have a password and login to a site, most likely you are not suppose to share the username, password, or resources from the website.
Creative Commons-CC
Check the Creative Commons (CC) rights on images. They have specific MEANING for Sharing See the website for CC Sharing Guidelines
TIP and Trick for Copyright-Use the Google Explore tool in Google Docs. If the image or resource doesn't show, it is not free to use and share.
United States Copyright Information
United States Copyright Office-located at the Library of Congress
European Copyright Information