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Kevin Smith, M.L.S., J.D., Lisa A. Macklin, J.D.,M.L.S., and Anne Gilliland, JD, MLS

Fear and uncertainty about copyright law often plagues educators and sometimes prevents creative teaching. This course is a professional development opportunity designed to provide a basic introduction to US copyright law and to empower teachers and librarians at all grade levels. Course participants will discover that the law is designed to help educators and librarians.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Copyright Law
Thank you for joining Copyright for Educators and Librarians! Our goal is to provide participants with a practical framework for analyzing copyright issues that they encounter in their professional work. We use a lot of real life examples—some of them quite complex and amusing—to help participants get used to the systematic analysis of copyright problems. This course is intentionally a first step toward bridging the gulf that is often perceived between desirable educational practice and legal permissible activities. We very much hope that this course will be a service to the library and education community, and that it provides a relatively fun and painless way to go deeper into copyright than the average presentation or short workshop allows. If you enjoy this course and would like to learn more about copyright in multimedia, that course will soon be available!
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A Framework for Thinking about Copyright
In the U.S., copyright is first and foremost a federal law passed by Congress under authority given it by the Constitution, where it says that Congress is allowed to pass laws to (among other things) promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for limited time to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writing and discoveries. This authorization allows Congress to adopt both copyright laws which protect creative expression, and patent laws, which are very different and provide exclusive rights in inventions. In this unit we will examine what is copyright and how it happens.
Owning Rights
For this module, we will discuss copyright ownership and what it means in an educational context. We will also discuss the public domain, the first sale doctrine, and the idea/expression dichotomy. This last concept—that creative expression can be copyrighted, but that the ideas behind it cannot—is one of Anne’s favorite topics in copyright law. As you’ll see in the video, the concept is applicable to many subjects and situations.
Specific Exceptions for Teachers and Librarians
This module will cover specific exceptions in copyright law for libraries and educational instruction as outlined in Section 110(1) of the U.S. Copyright Law. The module will examine how this law applies to in-class and online instruction as well as library lending. Additionally, it will explore different licenses for those working in educational institutions and libraries, including the specifics of Creative Commons. Finally, we discuss identifying and requesting permissions for use of copyrighted material.
Understanding and Using Fair Use
Fair Use is one of the most powerful aspects of U.S. copyright law for educators and librarians. In this module, we help students define Fair Use and understand where and in what contexts the law applies. We also address international aspects of copyright.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides a framework for comprehending copyright law, particularly for an educational context
Led by instructors with expertise in copyright law and its applications in libraries and education
Practical and scenario-based approach to learning copyright law, making it applicable to real-world situations
Covers crucial exceptions and limitations for teachers and librarians under US copyright law (Section 110(1))
Discusses fair use and its significance in educational and library settings

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Reviews summary

Copyright for the classroom

According to students, learners say this course is helpful in understanding the basics of copyright law. Librarians, educators, authors, researchers, and publishers will especially benefit from this course.
Course is well-designed for people working in academic libraries and education
"This course was very comprehensive and geared very much toward working with people in the academic library and education setting"
Quizzes contextualize the course concepts using real-world examples.
"I liked that they positioned their quiz questions by referencing a real world situation - it helped to apply the concepts to future issues that you may encounter."
Learners gain useful knowledge about copyright laws.
"Every educators and Librarians should enroll for this course."
"it is use full to student, researcher and newly writer for the report and article writing"
"Every educators and Librarians should enroll for this course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Copyright for Educators & Librarians with these activities:
Volunteer at a local library or school to assist with copyright-related tasks
Gain practical experience in applying copyright law and contribute to the community.
Show steps
  • Contact a local library or school
  • Inquire about volunteer opportunities
  • Assist with tasks such as copyright research, compliance training, or public education
Read 'Copyright for K-12 Teachers' by Carrie Russell
Gain a comprehensive understanding of copyright law as it applies to K-12 education, ensuring that you are using copyrighted materials appropriately.
Show steps
Complete practice questions on copyright law
Reinforce your understanding of copyright law by completing exercises and quizzes.
Show steps
  • Find practice questions online or in textbooks
  • Answer the questions to the best of your ability
  • Review your answers and identify areas for improvement
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Follow tutorials on using Creative Commons licenses
Gain proficiency in using Creative Commons licenses to share and reuse copyrighted materials appropriately.
Browse courses on Creative Commons
Show steps
  • Explore the Creative Commons website
  • Choose the appropriate license for your needs
  • Apply the license to your work
Create a presentation or infographic on fair use
Deepen your understanding of fair use by creating a resource that explains the concept and its application in educational settings.
Browse courses on Fair Use
Show steps
  • Research fair use and its four factors
  • Gather examples of fair use in education
  • Create a presentation or infographic that clearly explains fair use
Attend a workshop on copyright law for educators
Engage with experts and fellow educators to gain a deeper understanding of copyright law and its implications for your work.
Show steps
Develop a copyright compliance plan for your school or library
Develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that your institution is in compliance with copyright law, protecting both the institution and its users.
Browse courses on Copyright Law
Show steps
  • Research copyright law and best practices
  • Identify areas of risk and develop strategies to mitigate them
  • Create a written copyright policy
  • Train staff and students on copyright compliance
  • Monitor compliance and make adjustments as needed
Compile a collection of resources on copyright law for educators and librarians
Create a valuable resource that provides easy access to essential information on copyright law for your professional community.
Show steps
  • Gather resources from reliable sources
  • Organize the resources into a logical structure
  • Create a user-friendly format for easy access

Career center

Learners who complete Copyright for Educators & Librarians will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Publishing Lawyer
Publishing lawyers provide legal services to clients in the publishing industry, including authors, publishers, and agents. The course can provide you with a solid understanding of copyright law, including the specific provisions that apply to the publishing industry.
Copyright Officer
Copyright officers advise and assist their organizations on copyright matters. The course can help you develop a strong foundation in copyright law and gain the skills necessary to succeed in this role.
Intellectual Property Lawyer
Intellectual property lawyers advise clients on copyright, patent, and trademark law. The course can provide you with a solid understanding of copyright law and the legal framework surrounding intellectual property.
Journalist
Journalists write and report on news and current events. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the legal framework surrounding the media industry.
Video Game Producer
Video game producers oversee the production of video games. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the legal framework surrounding the video game industry.
Museum curator
Museum curators plan and organize museum exhibitions and programs. The course can help you develop a better understanding of copyright law and the use of copyrighted materials in museum exhibitions and programs.
Film Producer
Film producers oversee the production of films. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the legal framework surrounding the film industry.
Music Producer
Music producers oversee the recording and production of music. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the legal framework surrounding the music industry.
Archivist
Archivists appraise, acquire, preserve, and provide access to historical materials, such as documents, photographs, and audiovisual materials. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the application of fair use in your work.
Television Producer
Television producers oversee the production of television shows. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the legal framework surrounding the television industry.
Entertainment Lawyer
Entertainment lawyers provide legal services to clients in the entertainment industry, including musicians, actors, and writers. As the course can provide you with a solid understanding of copyright law and the legal framework surrounding intellectual property, it may be useful in your practice.
Blogger
Bloggers write and publish content on blogs. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the best practices for using copyrighted materials in your blog posts.
Librarian
Librarians assist library patrons, manage the library's collection, and may also conduct research. Because the course can help you better understand copyright law and the exceptions that apply to libraries, thus enabling you to fulfill your duties, it may be useful for you.
Content Creator
Content creators develop and publish content for websites, social media, and other platforms. The course can help you better understand copyright law and the best practices for using copyrighted materials in your content.
Teacher
Teachers create lesson plans, instruct their students, and grade assignments. As the course can help you better understand copyright law and avoid copyright infringement when creating lesson plans and using multimedia, such as videos and images, in your instruction, it may be useful for you.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Copyright for Educators & Librarians.
Provides a comprehensive overview of copyright law and cultural policy. It includes in-depth information on copyright law, fair use, and digital rights management.
Provides a critical history of copyright law. It provides valuable insights into the origins and evolution of copyright law.
Provides a comprehensive overview of copyright law and its impact on universities. It provides valuable insights into the challenges universities face in complying with copyright law.
Provides a comprehensive overview of copyright law and the digital divide. It provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by those who do not have access to copyrighted materials.
Provides a concise and accessible overview of copyright law for educators, librarians, and students. It includes helpful information on fair use, public domain, and copyright exceptions.
Provides a comprehensive guide to copyright law for creative professionals. It includes in-depth information on copyright registration, infringement, and fair use.

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