Staying on the Right Side of the Law: A Teacher's Guide to Copyright Laws

As new technologies emerge, copyright laws seem to become more and more foggy. The Internet allows for easy, quick download of software, music, video, photos and written work. As a teacher one is ethically and morally obligated to walk the high road and ensure proper use of published works. Wading through the logistics of copyright laws can be overwhelming. The following are some links to websites that offer guidelines for educators as to what is and is not O.K. to duplicate for classroom use.
Resources:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Teachers/copyrightlaw.html
http://fairuse.stanford.edu/
http://www.cas.usf.edu/english/walker/papers/copyright/ipdummie.html
(provides activities to test your copyright knowledge)
http://creativecommons.org/
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/title17/92chap1.html

Did you know.....
....Only T.V. shows that are broadcast to the public can be taped for use in the classroom and those tapes can only be used in the classroom for 10 consecutive days after the tape is made.
....Media is available on the web that bears a Creative Commons copyright, which strips away some of the rights reserved under a typical copyright. By clicking on the Creative Commons logo found on a work, you can easily view permitted and un-permitted use of that work.
....Unless clearly stated otherwise, it is illegal to copy from a workbook and distribute the copies to your class.