Schools and Copyright
Where am I?
What students need to know to protect themselves from copyright violations.
•Computer software violations area felony.
•“Bounty-hunters” are hired by some companies to identify and report violators of copyright law and guidelines.
•A limit of one image per book or periodical issue may be used in a project or report.
•Music from CD’s may not be dubbed or copied to a cassette tape.
•Compiling video clips from several different videos is a violation of copyright guidelines.
•Information found on the Internet is copyrighted unless accompanied by a message explicitly permitting duplication. •Technology allows easy duplication but does not necessarily make the duplication legal. In other words, just because you can does not mean you may.
Steps to Take to Copyright Compliance
•Plan your project well in advance of the deadline allowing time to request permission from copyright holders.
•Ask the classroom teacher or library media specialist for a sample letter requesting permission from the copyright holder.
Do not assume you may use any and all material without asking for permission.
There are guidelines for print, audiovisual, video, multimedia, music, and others. Students are permitted to use limited amounts of material without permission. Learn about these limitations by asking the classroom teacher or library media specialist for the specific guidelines for the type of material you want to use.
