This document provides an overview of US copyright law. It defines copyright as protection for original creative works like writing, art, and music. Copyright law aims to encourage more creative works by compensating authors. Almost all tangible works are automatically copyrighted with some exceptions. Works enter the public domain when copyright expires or the creator assigns it. Educators can use limited portions of copyrighted works for teaching under fair use guidelines. The document also discusses copyright on the internet and provides references for further information.

1. An Introduction to

2. Copyright
Copyright, according to the US
Copyright Office, is “a form of
protection provided by the laws of
the United States to the authors of
“original works of authorship,”
including
literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, a
nd certain other intellectual works."

4. Reason for Copyright
Copyright laws are based on the
belief that if people are compensated
for their original work, that the
compensation will encourage more
creative, original works, and that
society as a whole benefits from this
(Starr, 2010).

5. What is Copyrighted?
Almost every tangible expression is
automatically copyrighted with a few
small exceptions and items that are
in the public domain. An author does
not have to register the work for it to
be protected (Starr, 2010).

7. Public Domain
Includes all materials that are not
protected by copyright and do not
require a fee or license to use
(“Teaching copyright,” n.d.).
Things enter the public domain because
they have been assigned their by their
creator, the copyright on them has
expired, or they are not protected by
copyright (“Teaching copyright,” n.d.).

8. Internet and Copyright
Copyright law governs most of the
material on the internet in the same
way it governs non-digitized
material (ie.
books, music, videos, etc.)
(Harper, 2007). Most material on
the internet is not in the public
domain.

9. Fair Use
Fair use offers
educators, researchers, and others to
make reasonable and limited uses of
copyrighted materials
(Scholarship, n.d.).

10. Is it Fair Use?
There are four factors to consider if it is fair use
(Starr, 2010). They are:
1. the purpose and character of the use
2. the nature of the copyrighted work
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion
used in relation to the copyrighted work as a
whole
4. the effect of the use upon the potential
market for or value of the copyrighted work

11. Fair Use Checklist
The following checklist is a guide to
determining fair use:
http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyri
ght/files/2009/10/fairusechecklist.pdf

12. General Guidelines for Educators
Under most circumstances, educators may copy:
a single chapter from a book
an excerpt from a work that combines language and
illustrations, such as a children's book, not exceeding two pages
or 10 percent of the work, whichever is less
a poem of 250 words or less or up to 250 words of a longer poem
an article, short story, or essay of 2,500 words or less, or
excerpts of up to 1,000 words or 10 percent of a longer
work, whichever is less; or
a single chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon, or picture from
a book, periodical, or newspaper.
(Starr, 2010)

13. General Guidelines for Educators
Educators may NOT:
make multiple copies of different works as a substitute for
the purchase of books or periodicals
copy the same works for more than one semester, class, or
course
copy the same work more than nine times in a single
semester
use copyrighted work for commercial purposes
use copyrighted work without attributing the author.
(Starr, 2010).

14. US Copyright Basics Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl
ayer_embedded&v=q9t8MZOB_tc&noredir
ect=1#!

15. Two General Rules to Remember
1. If you are not sure, ask for
permission.
2. If you are taking away revenue
from someone, you are probably
violating copyright (although you can
violate copyright without taking away
revenue).

16. References Cited
ELearningExpert. (2012). U.S. copyright basics. Youtube.
Retrieved June 6, 2013, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedde
d&v=q9t8MZOB_tc#!
Harper, G. K. (2007). Copyright crash course. University of
Texas Libraries. Retrieved May 29, 2013, from
http://copyright.lib.utexas.edu/
Office, U. S. C. (2012). Copyright Basics. Retrieved June
6, 2013, from http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ01.pdf
Scholarship, C. for D. R. and. (n.d.). Copyright, fair use, and
education. Columbia University Library. Retrieved June
6, 2013, from http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/

17. Scindo. (2006). Copyright crystal black image. Retrieved June
10, 2013, from
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Cop
yright_crystal_black.png
Starr, L. (2010). The educator’s guide to copyright and fair
use. Education World. Retrieved June 6, 2013, from
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr280.shtml
Teaching copyright. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2013, from
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/
Unknown. (2012). Public domain image. Retrieved June 10,
2013, from http://pixabay.com/en/computer-icon-blue-
copyright-31188/