Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons FYIs
What is copyright?
Copyright is protection given to the authors or creators of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other intellectual works. Authors of work have the sole right to copy the work, distribute copies of that work, publicly perform and/or display the work, and make derivative works. It is illegal for anyone other than the author to do these things without explicit permission from the author, except in the case of Fair Use.
Copyright law is US federal law. The current copyright law is the Copyright Act of 1976.
What is Fair Use?
Fair use exists due to copyright laws (The Copyright Act of 1976). Typically we think of copyright laws limiting what we can do with media/works. But actually, the second half of the copyright agreements empower us to share as a culture. This if often overlooked! Copying, quoting, and re-using existing material can be a really important part of creating and shaping our culture. This is why we agree to share our work with others, with limits, in order to keep that opportunity alive.
You must consider these 4 elements to decide if your use is FAIR USE:
- The purpose and character of the use – Did you transform the original?
- The nature of the material – ls it factual, creative, consumable?
- The amount used – Did you use only the amount necessary?
- The effect on the market for the original – Are you taking someone’s profits?
If your use falls under Fair Use, you do not need permission from the original owner/creator of the work to use it.
Poster Source of information above
When it’s okay to REMIX, REUSE, or SHARE content, you can use the Creative Commons licenses to guide your work.
What is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons in the Classroom
Where can you find Creative Commons licensed works?
Images |
Creative Commons Search – Search many sites at once *Our Favorite! StockVault.net – Free images from photographers around the world Kozzi.com – One free photo per day FindIcons.com – Huge resource for avatars or small images Flickr Advanced Search – Use advanced search filters to show only CC licensed images Morguefile – Free stock photos (Thanks Sue Lyon-Jones for link in comments!) Open Clipart Libary – Public domain clipart (Thanks Sue Lyon-Jones for link in comments!) |
Video |
Embed from YouTube, Vimeo, WatchKnowLearn on your blog or website as long as it gives you the embed option. But if you’re changing the video or making mash-ups, that permission may not apply. You need to read the license carefully. |
Music/Audio |
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Curriculum and Text |
Wikipedia – Quote away (with a link back) to any information you find on Wikipedia Curriki – An open curriculum community Collaborize Classroom Library – A growing resource for discussion questions, lesson plans, and more Carefully check textbook permissions being reusing any of the content. It’s always best to paraphrase and share ideas in your own original ways, rather than copy word for word. Works published before 1923 are in the public domain! US Government works are in the public domain! |
A ton of Copyright Friendly links from Joyce Valenza’s wiki http://copyrightfriendly.wikispaces.com/home Music and Picture sites http://www.diigo.com/tag/creativecommons |
The Educator’s Guide to Creative Commons
A visual guide to the Creative Commons licenses
Copyright and Fair Use learning module
From Common Sense Media, Lessons and Resources in the category “Creative Credit and Copyright” are available for grades K-12. See here: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/scope-and-sequence
https://sites.google.com/site/roeperchildrenslibrary/citations-copyright/creative-commons
http://drapestakes.blogspot.com/2008/12/educators-guide-to-creative-commons.html
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/handout/fair-use-faq
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/handout/copyright-faq
http://theedublogger.com/2012/02/09/the-educators-guide-to-copyright-fair-use-and-creative-commons/
http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Marking/Users
http://gatesideas.wikispaces.com/CreativeCommons (video intro)
Copyright Law Fair Use for Instructional Designers
Copyright Confusion http://copyrightconfusion.wikispaces.com/
CC search http://search.creativecommons.org/
Is My Use a Fair Use? poster https://docs.google.com/a/elanco.net/viewer?url=http://copyrightconfusion.wikispaces.com/file/view/Poster%2B-%2BFair%2BUse%2B.pdf
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use – I don’t think the seconds/minutes/words used need apply technically if it’s indeed fair use; these are more of recommended guidelines
Principles 4 and 5 on this page cover student use of copyrighted material for educational purposes. Really great descriptions for teacher use, too. https://docs.google.com/a/elanco.net/viewer?url=http://mediaeducationlab.com/sites/mediaeducationlab.com/files/CodeofBestPracticesinFairUse.pdf
Another great wiki filled with resources from Susie Nestico http://principlesofdemocracy.wikispaces.com/Digital+Storytelling