What are the Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers and Schools?

What is Copyright Law?

Copyright law is designed to protect the intellectual property of creators and artists. When you use copyrighted materials in your teaching, you are essentially borrowing someone else's creative work. To do this legally, you need to obtain permission from the copyright holder or use the material under the fair use doctrine.

What is the Fair Use Doctrine?

The fair use doctrine is a legal concept that allows for the limited use of copyrighted materials without obtaining permission. The doctrine is based on the idea that some uses of copyrighted materials are so minimal or transformative that they do not harm the market for the original work. In education, the fair use doctrine is often used to justify the use of copyrighted materials in teaching and learning.

What are the Guidelines for Using Copyrighted Materials in Education?

• Use copyrighted materials only for educational purposes.

• Use only as much of the material as necessary to achieve your educational goals.

• Use the material in a way that is transformative, meaning that it is used in a new and different way that adds value to the original work.

• Give credit to the original creator of the material.

• Do not use copyrighted materials for commercial purposes.

What are the Specific Guidelines for Using Copyrighted Materials in Online Courses?

You may need to obtain permission from the copyright holder to use copyrighted materials in an online course, especially if the course is being offered for a fee.

How Can I Use Copyrighted Materials in a Way That is Both Legal and Respectful?

By following these guidelines, you can use copyrighted materials in a way that is both legal and respectful.

What are the References for Using Copyrighted Materials in Education?

1. United States Copyright Office. (n.d.). Copyright.gov.
2. Copyright Alliance. (n.d.). Copyrightalliance.org.
3. Edutopia. (n.d.). Edutopia.org.