Welcome to Divine Esehs Learning Module on Copyright Literacy

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Why Copyright Literacy A person is copyright literate, if they can

recognize when information is needed, locate that information, and finally, utilize and evaluate that needed information.

This definition was derived and adapted from the original definition of information literacy by the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries). Source: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/standar ds.pdf

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Purpose of Tutorial

The purpose of this learning module is to make students and faculty at UMUC aware of the meaning and significance of copyright law and how it affects them. This Tutorial is short but informative and not meant to replace a 3 hour credit semester course. Therefore, it should serve as a learning tool or guide to reference you to other resources as you study and analyze issues of copyright law and copyright compliance.

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Module Objectives: At the end of this course, students and faculty for example should be able to:
Understand the basics of copyright law Understand the repercussions pertaining to copyright infringement Be able to recognize situations when permission to use copyrighted works is required or not , and above all Know when and how to obtain permission to use copyrighted works.
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Do you use articles from journals, books, and other publications to create course packs?

Do you ever download articles from the Internet for classroom use?
Do you post information online for distance learning or electronic reserves? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this Tutorial is for you.
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Copyright law is a serious matter: According to Butler (2006) If you performed any of the above mentioned activities without permission from the copyright owner is under many circumstances copyright infringement The risk of being found guilty of copyright infringement is real. There are at least 10,000 infringement suits filed every year in the United States. Most of these are settled out of court to avoid embarrassment to the organizations, institutions or individuals involved. (Butler, 2006)

So do not be a statistic.
Be Copyright Literate and be Copyright Compliant

Come to think of it, what is copyright infringement? What is Copyright? How is it different from Fair Use? Where can I find the answer to these question?

To answer these questions, you must be able to do two things very well

First know the definition and meaning of Copyright Law.

Second , be well versed in using the concept of Fair Use Please follow the links shown below and you will find very useful information about the first and second items listed above. At those locations, your questions will be fully explained and answered by experts in the field of copyright law. Copyright Clearance Center Inc. http://www.copyright.com RSI copyright provides http://www.icopyright.com

Why is copyright and copyright compliance important to students and faculty? Why is this tutorial relevant to teaching and learning within a distance education environment?

According to Alsaffer (2006) Copyright has a direct implications for online students. Not only are they users of copyrighted works, but as students, they are creators as well. Everyday activities such as forwarding an attachment to a fellow student, posting an entry to a discussion group, inserting clip art into a PowerPoint presentation, or writing a paper for a course, all carry copyright considerations. The chances of infringing copyright in the online environment are greater simply because of the venue.(p.2)

As both consumers and producers of copyrighted works, what should students know about copyright?

First, They must have an awareness of both the rights and responsibilities they have when dealing with

copyrighted works.
In other words, we want students to take full advantage of the privileges copyright affords, yet realize the limitations of use. Just as important as knowing what might constitute infringement is knowing that there is a danger in being too risk-averse (Alsaffer 2006, p.4)

 Copyright privileges and limitations of use. Does that mean students and faculty can lawfully use

copyrighted works within certain parameters

without permission? Yes, Alsaffer (2006) confirms that many uses of copyrighted information within higher education fall within the scope of fair use, So therefore do not constitute infringement. (p.4)

And as Arn puts it, fair use is a possible defense

to copyright infringement (Arn 1998, p.369)

But what if the items you intend to use for

your project are copyrighted works

And do not qualify for fair use and are not in public domain then what must I do?

According to Alsaffer(2006) getting

permission to use a work is the surest

way to avoid Copyright Infringement (Alsaffer, 2006, p.7)

But how do you know when to get

permission to use copyrighted work?

How do you go about obtaining permissions? Are there any forms to fill out or address requirements?

When it is necessary to obtain copyright permission, you must either contact the copyright owner or an authorized agent. Listed below are two authorized agents that might help speed up the process. Follow the links below for the answers to your questions: http://www.copyright.com Copyright Clearance Center Inc http://www.icopyright.com RSI

 Copyright Clearance Center Inc. acts as an agent on behalf of thousands of publishers, authors and other creators, directly or through their representatives. CCC can provide quick turnaround time for your requests.

There might be a charge for obtaining copyright permission. This service only provides copyright permission; it does not provide the article.

RSI copyright provides quick turnaround for your requests, and gives you the content of the articles from which you are seeking copyright permission.

Web Sites to Consult for Further Information

For Sample Letters for Copyright Permission please go here: http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/IntellectualProperty/permmm.htm includes examples provided by the University Of Texas Office Of General Counsel. U.S. Copyright Office Information Circulars http://www.copyright.gov/circs Offers basic fact sheets and circulars that address fair use and other copyright issues. The Guide to Copyright Compliance http://www.copyright.com/Services/CorporateGuide/index2.htm This is an interactive guide instructing users on copyright compliance. (Butler, 2006)

More Web Sites to Consult for Digital videos. Do you like digital videos and multimedia web sites to enhance your learning? Follow the links below for two of my best websites with lots of content on copyright literacy.
Agnew, J., Gummess, G., Hudson, M.(2003). A Visit to Copyright Bay. Retrieved April 6, 2009 from http://www.stfrancis.edu/cid/copyrightbay/

Copyright 101 (Brigham Young University). (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2009, from

http://www.lib.byu.edu/departs/copyright/tutorial/intro/page1.ht m

It is always a good idea to evaluate your progress.

So follow the link at Copyright Bay.. And take the Quiz

In terms of copyright violations, ignorance is not bliss.

So do not be a statistic.

Be Copyright Literate and be Copyright Compliant

This concludes my Learning Module Tutorial. I hope it helped you with your Copyright Literacy Needs.

Divine Mbong Eseh

UMUC DETT 611 , Spring 2009
Copyright 2009

Disclaimer: Information in this slide presentation should not be construed as legal advice. Seek professional legal assistance for answers to specific
questions about copyright

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