What is Copyright?

In the United States , copyright is a form of protection provided by the government 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 This protection is available to both published and unpublished works, regardless of the nationality or domicile of the author. It is unlawful for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by copyright law to the owner of the copyright.

How can you use copyright for educational purposes?

• In order to use copyrighted materials without permission or without purchasing, you need to establish the project as "fair use," such as research, study, and education.

What things consider fair use?

• the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
• the nature of the copyrighted work;
• the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
• the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Guideline to claim fair use in education:

• As long as you cited your source.
• As long as you do not publish your work in a public performance or publicly on the web.
• You can purchase the rights to use or own the materials.
• You can find royalty free materials, but be careful reading the agreement rights.

resources on copyright in education

• Copyright for Students
• Copying for Educational Purposes - A Quick Guide
• Copyright - CyberBee (animation)
• YouTube Copyright