Students are frequently assigned online projects that encourage creativity. Even though there is a wealth of information and sources online, this doesn't mean the material is free to use. The purpose of this website is to educate students and teachers copyright basics and to provide resources that will be helpful for future student creations.
What is copyright?
Copyright is protection for creative work. This includes original writings, images, music, videos, etc. The creator chooses how the material is used. ALL original work is protected under copyright when it is created.
If you copy other people’s creative works without permission, that’s called copyright infringement.
Always assume that the creative work is copyright protected, even if it's not stated.
Copyright inspires individuals to create their own original work!
How can a person still use online material without violating copyright laws??
Public domain means the material belongs to the public and a person doesn't need permission to use it.
Why? Either the copyright expired or the work was created more than 95 years ago (in 2021, this would be works published before 1926).
Works created by the federal government such as documents, videos, photos, and websites are also considered public domain.
Want more information about public domain? Check out the University of California's website about this topic.
Fair use means individuals can use copyrighted work that is still fair to the owner (see specifics in the image above)
Students can use copyrighted material if:
It's specifically for a school project
It's not for public consumption. The material can be posted in a private online classroom (one that requires a login) or within the walls of a traditional classroom.
The work is transformed to something new and different.
Teachers can display/perform copyrighted work as long as it's for:
Face to Face Instruction at a non-profit educational institution.
The copy was lawfully obtained.
****Still unsure about what is considered Fair Use? Click HERE for this helpful list of examples provided by CSU Long Beach.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons means creative work can be used without permission but only in certain circumstances. The creators set the rules. There are 6 Creative Commons licenses. Click HERE to see the descriptions (or see below for another image).
If you use an image with a Creative Commons License, it's also always important to attribute the resource. Students will want to provide:
Title of the Source
Author/creator
Where the resource was found (URL)
License of the work
Image altered by Mrs. McBride on Canva
How can I find images online without worrying about copyright infringement?
How to search for images on Google with a Creative Commons License:
Under Google Images, click on "Tools", then "Usage Rights", and then choose "Creative Commons Licenses".
Image created by Mrs. McBride on Canva
After clicking on the image, there will be statement below the image that says "License details". Click on that and Creative Commons will tell you how you can use the image.
**Several of the websites above were used for the creation of this web page!