This document provides an overview of copyright laws as they relate to education. It defines copyright as giving creators control over how their works are used. The TEACH Act of 2002 gives educators rights to display copyrighted materials for classroom instruction without permission. Educators must meet certain criteria for the use to be legal, such as only providing access to enrolled students and using materials directly related to the lesson. Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted works for purposes like teaching without permission, considering factors like the purpose of the use and amount of the work used. Permission is required for commercial use or using an entire work.

1. Copyright Crash Course
Vilma N. Orduña
EDTC 6340.62

2. What is copyright?
“Copyright provides the creator of a work
of art or literature, or a work that conveys
information or ideas, the right to control
how the work is used" (Fishman, 2008, p.
6).
The purpose of copyright is to give an
economic incentive to the author of a work
to create new works.

3. The Teach Act
Since 2002 the TEACH Act gives
educators a different set of rights to
display documents or use copyrighted
materials in the classroom.

4. The Teach Act
Images, music, movies and any
curriculum work can be use face to face
in the classroom by an educator.
There are no limits and no permission
required.

5. The Teach Act -checklist
My institution is a nonprofit accredited educational institution or a governmental agency
It has a policy on the use of copyrighted materials
It provides accurate information to faculty, students and staff about copyright
Its systems will not interfere with technological controls within the materials I want to use
The materials I want to use are specifically for students in my class
Only those students will have access to the materials
The materials will be provided at my direction during the relevant lesson
The materials are directly related and of material assistance to my teaching content
My class is part of the regular offerings of my institution
I will include a notice that the materials are protected by copyright
I will use technology that reasonably limits the students' ability to retain or further distribute the materials
I will make the materials available to the students only for a period of time that is relevant to the context of a
class session
I will store the materials on a secure server and transmit them only as permitted by this law
I will not make any copies other than the one I need to make the transmission
The materials are of the proper type and amount the law authorizes:
•Entire performances of nondramatic literary and musical works
•Reasonable and limited parts of a dramatic literary, musical, or audiovisual works
•Displays of other works, such as images, in amounts similar to typical displays in face-to-face teaching
The materials are not among those the law specifically excludes from its coverage:
•Materials specifically marketed for classroom use for digital distance education
•Copies I know or should know are illegal
•Textbooks, coursepacks, electronic reserves and similar materials typically purchased individually by the
students for independent review outside the classroom or class session
If I am using an analog original, I checked before digitizing it to be sure:
•I copied only the amount that I am authorized to transmit
•There is no digital copy of the work available except with technological protections that prevent my using it for the
class in the way the statute authorizes

6. What is Fair Use?
Fair use is the most important limitation on
the copyright holder's exclusive rights
Four factors to take in consideration:
1. The purpose and character of the use
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used
4. The effect of use on the potential market for the copyrighted
work

7. When is Permission Required?
When you intend to use the materials for commercial
purposes.
When you want to use the materials repeatedly.
When you want to use a work in its entirety, especially
when it is longer than 2,500 words (U.S. Copyright Office,
2009, p. 7).

8. References
HARPER, GEORGIA K. "Copyright Crash Course."
Http://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/. The University
Libraries. Web. Sept.-Oct. 2011.
<http://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/index.html>.