This document provides an overview of U.S. copyright law, including its definition, history, and how it affects teachers and students. It outlines what works are protected under copyright, from 1923 to present. Fair use guidelines for educational purposes are described, allowing limited use of copyrighted works for nonprofit instruction. Teachers can use short excerpts of text, music, and videos under fair use. The document also cautions about obtaining permission when posting student works or copyrighted content online.

1. Copyright Law
October 18, 2006
Darrell Tangen

2. Overview
• definition
• history and laws
• details of protection and fair use
• internet and web
• affects teachers
• affects students
• summary

3. Definition
• Copyright is a form of protection provided by the
laws of the United States to the authors of
“original works of authorship” including literary,
dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other
intellectual works.
• This protection is available to both published and
unpublished works.
• Protection provided under Title 17 of the US
Code and The Copyright Act of 1976

4. Copyright History and Law
• Copyright protected or “public domain”
• all works published before 1923 are in the public
domain
• 1923 - 1978 maybe protected - 28 years if
registered as copyrighted. Copyrights can be
renewed during this period. Amendments
extended protection.
• 1977 until now- published works are 70 years
plus life of author
– work for hire protected 95-120 years after being
published
• International Protection
– 100 countries subscribe to the Berne Convention or the
GATT treaty

5. History and Law-2
• amendments
• 1989 Amendment - copyright notice no longer
required
• 1992 Amendment - auto renewable for 1964-77
• 1998 Amendment - ISP as publisher, new
guidelines
• US Supreme Court Cases
– Sony Corp. of Am. v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464
U.S. 417 (1984) Fair Use - Sale and Use of VCRs]

6. History and Law-3
• proposed
– able to digitize published images for electronic
presentation
– using components for multimedia creation
– face to face instruction and
– up to two years of use
– limits on portions or amounts (10%)
– only two copies of a multimedia project made (or one
per creator)

7. Details
• applying for copyrights
– the forms
• copyright notice
• Fair use (Section 107 of the Copyright Act of
1976)
• works for hire
• searching for a copyright ($20/hour)

8. Internet and the Web
• posting and downloading
• sign on accepting
• “they are watching”
• get permission !!

9. Internet and the Web-2
• Five web safety protocols
– assume it is protected
– read click wrap agreements
– remove unauthorized material
– investigate claims promptly
– when in doubt, seek permission

10. Affects Teachers
• Fair use
• Guidelines, fair use and educational use
– engaged in nonprofit instructional, research or
scholarly activities for educational purposes
– Reproducing Text Materials for Class
• one copy of articles, chapters, peom, charts, graphs,
picture etc.
• cannot replace text or workbooks
• cannot be charged more than actual cost
• article less 2500 words or less than 10%
• less than 250 words of a peom
• one chart or picture etc. per book or publication

11. Teachers cont.
– Music
• music - 10% or less of song
• only one copy per student
• may not copy sheet music for performance
• emergency exemption
– TV video
• schools can record but keep only 45 days
• played only once
• http://fairuse.stanford.educopyrightand fiar use
overview/cahpter7/7-b.html

12. Affects Students
• downloading or copying text, images or graphics
• plagiarizing
• giving credit does not replace permission
• Posting student work

13. Summary
• Review the guidelines and the law
• Be familiar with “fair use”
• Know where to research
• Sources
– www.copyright.gov
– www.fairuse.stanford.edu
– IcWeb.loc.gov/copyright/circ/circ21.pdf

14. Thank you !

15. Valid Copyright Notice
• the word copyright
• a “c” in a circle ©
• the date of publication
• and name of author or owner
• ie. Copyright © 2006 by Darrell Tangen