This page is not meant to be comprehensive, but to act as a quick reference on common copyright issues that face educators.

Works Included

Works include but are not limited to:

• Computer programs
• Dramatic works
• Literary works
• Motion pictures, video, or other audiovisuals
• Musical works
• Pantomimes and choreographic works
• Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
• Sound recordings

Published works (including the Internet) are copyrighted whether or not they post a copyright notice.

Fair Use

• What is Fair Use?
  "Fair use provides cost-free access tothe author's work even during the term of copyright protection. Fair use attempts to balance the author's right to control against the public's need for access to a copyrighted work." Factors such as use for non profit, whether the work is about facts or fiction -- factual work will more often pass the fair use test, the amount of materials used, and whether or not the use of the materials impacts the profitability of the work are considered in determining fair use.
• When is it ok to copy?
  • Teachers may copy a single copy for research, teaching, or preparation purposes of:
    • A chapter from a book
    • An article from a periodical or newspaper
    • A short story, short essay, or short poem
    • A chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, or picture from printed material.
  • In general, the 10% limit for copying from a single source is a useful guideline.
• A Teacher May Not:
  • Copy from consumable materials (workbooks, activity books, exercises, standardized tests, answer sheets)
  • Copy to avoid purchase of materials.
  • Copy the same item from term to term without securing permission.
  • Utilize more than nine instances of multiple copying per course per term.
  • Copy more than one short work or 2 excerpts from 1 author's work in any one term.
  • Use copies developed by another teacher without securing separate permission from the copyright owner.
  • Copy to make anthologies or compilations or to substitute for them.
  • Copy protected materials without inclusion of a notice of the copyright which appears on the printed copy.
  • Make multiple copies for a class of students unless the restrictions governing quantity and spontaneity are followed.

Digital Images

• An educator may display digital images for educational purposes in the classroom.
• An educator may compile digital images on a secure (non-public) server for the duration of a course. These do not become a part of the institutions permanent collection.
• Digital images may be displayed for use at non-commercial professional workshops and conferences.
• Digital images by others may not be published in print or digital form (i.e. web pages).

Citing sources

• Students should be expected to reference any source. This includes sources for images and other media that may be used in student projects.
• The 10% rule is a useful rule of thumb in terms of use of copyrighted materials. As we already insist that students produce original writing, encourage students to make their own graphics and other media. This also reinforces Learning Results in the Performing and Visual Arts standards.

Web Publishing Guidelines

• Work must be original.
• Sources for information must be cited.
• Explicit permission must be granted to use an occasional image or quote material that is not your own.

Other sources:

U.S. Copyright Office

Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials - written by the Office of General Counsel, University of Texas System