Copyright Law Defined
"Copyright is a legal device that provides the creator of an original work of art or literature, or a work that conveys information or ideas, the right to control how the work is used." Stephen Fishman, Esq. The Copyright Handbook, 1996.
Simply put, Copyright is in place so that people who create works (songs, poems, football plays, short films, and many others) are protected as the creators and owners of the rights to those works. Students, teachers, and librarians must respect these artists in how they use copyrighted materials.
Simply put, Copyright is in place so that people who create works (songs, poems, football plays, short films, and many others) are protected as the creators and owners of the rights to those works. Students, teachers, and librarians must respect these artists in how they use copyrighted materials.
For example, see below for some examples of the U.S. Copyright Law:
-In projects, students may copy and use up to 10 percent of the total printed text (book, short story, or poem), or 1,000 words, whichever is less.
-In projects, up to 10 percent of the work but no more than 30 seconds of the music or lyrics from an individual musical work.
-Teachers may use parts of copyrighted works when creating their own projects or lessons in support of curriculum-based instruction. However, these lessons may only be used as lessons for their students or for conference/meeting presentations.
-In projects, students may copy and use up to 10 percent of the total printed text (book, short story, or poem), or 1,000 words, whichever is less.
-In projects, up to 10 percent of the work but no more than 30 seconds of the music or lyrics from an individual musical work.
-Teachers may use parts of copyrighted works when creating their own projects or lessons in support of curriculum-based instruction. However, these lessons may only be used as lessons for their students or for conference/meeting presentations.
Visit the following two websites below to find out more about what students, teachers, and librarians can and cannot use or do under Copyright Law.
University of Maryland University College's webpage has linked information on the law and all of the law's requirements.
Copyright Kids is a kid and teenager-friendly webpage that walks students through the copyright laws and effectively explains why students should care!
University of Maryland University College's webpage has linked information on the law and all of the law's requirements.
Copyright Kids is a kid and teenager-friendly webpage that walks students through the copyright laws and effectively explains why students should care!
updated on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at 12:45 p.m.