Copyright Law Comments

Copyright can be complicated! One thing I found interesting is that most works are automatically under copyright protection. I thought you had to register or apply for a copyright.
It is great that there are many options as far as being able to use works for education purposes, especially for us as educators!

Here are some things I learned:
Licensing: A copyright owner can share ownership or authorize use of works…
- Exclusive (must always be in writing)
- Non-exclusive (authorize one or more of rights or non-transfer of ownership)
To be protected by copy right there must be three criterion met:
- Tangible
- Original
- Minimal creativity
Copyright protects: reproduction, display, performance, distribution, adaptation, etc.

Sometimes you don’t need permission to use:
1.) Things not protected by Copyright Law:
1. Public domain – before 1923
2. Owner fails to renew copyright
3. Item placed in public domain
4. Based solely on facts or ideas
5. Created by government.
2.) FAIR USE:
1. Criticism
2. News reporting
3. Teaching
4. Scholarship or research activity
3.) Other considerations: Purpose, kind of work, amount being used, market effect.
Some copyright protected works can be use for educational purposes 110(1):
- Face to face teaching
- No restrictions on type or length of work
- Must be legal copy
- Covers only students and teachers
- Covers only classrooms
Teach act 110 (2):
- Private – acceptable
- Public – “substantial number of people other than family” – not acceptable
Agreements include: Exclusivity, Term, Territory