Teachers Guide to Copyright

Educators don’t know what they don’t know about copyright. 


Teachers have access to wonderful multi‐media technology, but worry about how best to communicate with their students without running afoul of the law. Faculty, librarians and administrators have legitimate concerns, but there are no clear answers.


How much copyrighted material can be used in class? Is the use of copyrighted material in an educational environment automatically “fair use?” May student projects use audio/visual content? What does “public domain” mean? Is a Creative Commons license sufficient protection? What if lectures are webcast or podcast? Do the same rules apply for distance learning?


Why do these questions matter? If you get it wrong, copyright infringement can cost you $150,000.


Copyright concerns shouldn’t get in the way of teaching and all too often, they do. The new 3rd edition of The Teacher’s Guide to Copyright uses interactive graphics, video, audio, sample contracts and checklists as a roadmap through the intellectual property minefield for faculty, online course designers, librarians and administrators.