Running Header: THE BASICS OF COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE

The Basics of Copyright and Fair Use and How I Will

Apply What I Know as an Educator
Claire Christie
North Carolina Central University

THE BASICS OF COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE

Abstract
This paper discusses the basic copyright laws and how educators can avoid infringing these laws
in their classrooms. Fair use will also be discussed and will cover everything from who can
actually use other peoples work to the ways they can use it and the ways they can avoid using
work incorrectly. This paper will also discuss the various ways students can be responsible with
educational technology. By explaining copyright as a whole and then delving into the individual
examples and ways educators, students, and average people can be cautious of the way they use
another originators work, we can educate ourselves on better ways to be safe and caring internet
citizens.

THE BASICS OF COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE

The Basics of Copyright and Fair Use and How I Will
Apply What I Know as an Educator
Copyright is defined as an originators legal right to print, publish, or record artistic,
literary, or musical content. Fair use is how one would appropriately use someone elses material
in a legal and ethical way. Using another persons work is only allowed in education, news, in
commenting or critiquing, or creating comedy and parody. Even in those constraints, it is only
acceptable to use a small portion of the originators work, and you use their work in a different
way that adds new meaning to it. Finally, you can only use it for non-profit purposes. Copyright
is the right of the originator to protect their work, whereas fair use is the way you must respect
the originators work.
It is important for multimedia producers to respect the work of other creators because
people deserve credit for their material. It is not at all fair to use another persons work and pass
it off as your own. While it is very useful and effective to incorporate other creations into ones
multimedia content, it is also important to respect the rights of another persons content. In any
case, producers of all kinds expect their work to be respected, so producers must respect each
others work when using it in their multimedia presentations.
Educators may accidentally violate copyright laws. It is an easy mistake because the
laws do state that fair use includes educational purposes. What is not permitted is the use of
certain material incorrectly. For instance, a teacher might purchase a certain software but need to
install that software on multiple computers for educational purposes. This would only be
acceptable if the software publisher it was purchased from also provides licensure or permits for
copying the content on several devices under certain circumstances.

THE BASICS OF COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE

I would educate my students on fair use and copyright by letting them know how I was
authorized to distribute the material that I provided them with. This would first give them an
idea of how to avoid violating copyright law. I would also most likely assign presentation
projects that involved using work from other creators and include fair use and careful avoidance
of copyright law violations as part of their grade for the project.
Students are also required to be educated on copyright and fair use laws when it comes to
their education with NETS standards for students. The digital citizenship standards include ways
students should use educational technology responsibly. These standards also emphasise safety
when using technology in education.
As you can see, it is very important to understand copyright laws. It is also very
important to implement the requirements for fair use when creating a new work. People should
have their material respected and it is necessary to follow the laws set in place to protect those
rights.

THE BASICS OF COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE

References
copyright.gov. (n.d.). Copyright Law of The United States of America. Retrieved from U S
Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107
EDUCATORS, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE LAW. (n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2015, from
http://www.horizon.unc.edu/projects/resources/educators.asp
ISTE Standards Students. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2015, from
https://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf