Copyright

What is Copyright?

Copyright is defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary as "the legal right to be the only one to reproduce, publish, and sell a book, musical recording, etc., for a certain period of time".

Copyright is law at the federal level because it is laid out in the constitution. It is technically intellectual property given to the inventor or creator of some sort of tangible medium (notes, music, documents, pictures, sounds, etc...). People who hold the copyright to such media have the exclusive rights to reproduction and distribution among other things.

What is Fair Use?

Fair use is the idea that if you are using media for the greater good (such as education and teaching) than your right to use the media overrules the copyright holder. This is why teachers can use some things that are copyrighted for educational purposes without asking or paying.Section 107 of the Copyright Act gives limitations to the exclusive rights of copyright holders so that educators may use their tangible media.

Rules That Teachers Should Follow While Using Copyrighted Materials:

1. Don't abuse fair use for the purpose of entertainment or reward. For example, don't just assume that because you are in a school setting you can do whatever you want. There are limitations to fair use!

2. Consumable prints, such as worksheets and tests, are not to be copied. The companies profiting from the sale of these items need to stay in business to expand education, too.

3. Acquire the works legitimately.. no bootleg work! If music is used, it must have come from a CD or file that was paid for-not from someone who stole the work.

4. Always give credit where credit is due- cite your work! This is a good practice to use to teach students how to give credit, as well!