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ICT Leadership for Education Managers

Copyright Quiz

The Internet has opened up many new resources to both educators and learners. However, there are still copyright laws that we need to follow. Take this quick quiz to see if you know how you should use copyrighted materials on and off the Web.

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1. A learner downloads 10 pictures from various Internet sites for his science presentation. On the last slide, he lists the Web addresses where he obtained the information and images.

Appropriate
CORRECT

It is within Fair Use for the student to download 10 pictures from various Internet sites for a school project. Copyright laws and the Fair Use provision do not indicate how one would cite one's sources.

However, the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia state that the student would need to include complete reference citations, not just the URL source. The Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia is not law, but has been created to help educators and students have clearer guidelines as to what constitutes "fair use." These guidelines also state that one would also need to include basic copyright information below each of the copyrighted images.

Inappropriate
INCORRECT

It is within Fair Use for the student to download 10 pictures from various Internet sites for a school project. Copyright laws and the Fair Use provision do not indicate how one would cite one's sources.

However, the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia state that the student would need to include complete reference citations, not just the URL source. The Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia is not law, but has been created to help educators and students have clearer guidelines as to what constitutes "fair use." These guidelines also state that one would also need to include basic copyright information below each of the copyrighted images.

2. An educator copies an article out of a journal, several excerpts out of an anthology, and an entire 30-page short story to create her own booklet of reading materials for her learners. She gives a full bibliography for each resource at the end of the booklet.

Appropriate
INCORRECT

Creating a course pack in this manner is overstepping the provisions of Fair Use. One article out of a journal or newspaper is probably acceptable, several excerpts out of an anthology is questionable depending on the amount, but the entire 30-page story would not be considered fair use. She would need to obtain prior authorization to use it.

Even if all of the elements within this teacher's booklet were considered appropriate under the Fair Use provision, copying these works may not be done to create, replace, or substitute for anthologies, compilations, or collective works that already exist.

Inappropriate
CORRECT

Creating a course pack in this manner is overstepping the provisions of Fair Use. One article out of a journal or newspaper is probably acceptable, several excerpts out of an anthology is questionable depending on the amount, but the entire 30-page story would not be considered fair use. She would need to obtain prior authorization to use it.

Even if all of the elements within this teacher's booklet were considered appropriate under the Fair Use provision, copying these works may not be done to create, replace, or substitute for anthologies, compilations, or collective works that already exist.

3. A learner downloads her favorite song to play as background music for a multimedia project. The presentation will only be shown in the classroom.

Appropriate
INCORRECT

First, for Fair Use, the music must be legally obtained. The student downloaded a copy of the song that she did not pay for. In addition, an entire song is beyond the recommendations of the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia.

Inappropriate
CORRECT

First, for Fair Use, the music must be legally obtained. The student downloaded a copy of the song that she did not pay for. In addition, an entire song is beyond the recommendations of the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia.

4. An educator creates an educational Web site including pictures and several pages of text from other Web sites, as well as stories and essays created by his learners. No permissions for any of these items were obtained.

Appropriate
INCORRECT

This teacher would need to check the use restrictions of the sites where he obtained the pictures. If the site is anything other than a "free" image site, he should ask permission to use the images, plus cite his sources. The several Web pages of text would probably be beyond fair use, depending upon the amount used, so the teacher should request permission to use the text, or simply create a link to the original site and not use the text verbatim in his own. Students and their parents would need to sign an authorization form to allow the teacher to post original student work because the students' original work is also protected under copyright law, plus parents have the right to keep their children's work off of the Web.

Inappropriate
CORRECT

This teacher would need to check the use restrictions of the sites where he obtained the pictures. If the site is anything other than a "free" image site, he should ask permission to use the images, plus cite his sources. The several Web pages of text would probably be beyond fair use, depending upon the amount used, so the teacher should request permission to use the text, or simply create a link to the original site and not use the text verbatim in his own. Students and their parents would need to sign an authorization form to allow the teacher to post original student work because the students' original work is also protected under copyright law, plus parents have the right to keep their children's work off of the Web.

5. An educator downloads a shareware programme from the Internet and installs it on all of the school lab computers for learner use for a particular project. He does not pay the R150 software fee for each installation. Within 30 days, he removes the programme.

Appropriate
CORRECT

Software does not fall under Fair Use. However, most shareware programs have a 30-day evaluation period in which you may use the software freely. After 30 days, the amount for the shareware software should be paid or the program should be uninstalled. Some shareware programs have built-in limitations on their trial versions. The teacher should check the use agreements carefully and check his school/district policy about downloading and using shareware software on school computers.

Inappropriate
INCORRECT

Software does not fall under Fair Use. However, most shareware programs have a 30-day evaluation period in which you may use the software freely. After 30 days, the amount for the shareware software should be paid or the program should be uninstalled. Some shareware programs have built-in limitations on their trial versions. The teacher should check the use agreements carefully and check his school/district policy about downloading and using shareware software on school computers.

6. A Social Sciences educator tapes the parliamentary debates and plays the tape in his class the following week. He uses the same tape for the next three years.

Appropriate
INCORRECT

The first use (showing the debate within 10 days of its public broadcast) would be acceptable under Fair Use (according to Guidelines for Off-Air Recording of Broadcast Programming for Educational Purposes, created by a Congressional committee). However, using it beyond that time, unless the copyright holder allows it, is beyond Fair Use. After using it in the classroom within 10 days of its public broadcast, the teacher should either ask permission or pay for a copy of the videotape to continue showing it in his classes.

Inappropriate
CORRECT

The first use (showing the debate within 10 days of its public broadcast) would be acceptable under Fair Use (according to Guidelines for Off-Air Recording of Broadcast Programming for Educational Purposes, created by a Congressional committee). However, using it beyond that time, unless the copyright holder allows it, is beyond Fair Use. After using it in the classroom within 10 days of its public broadcast, the teacher should either ask permission or pay for a copy of the videotape to continue showing it in his classes.