1. Copyright Should I copy this or not?

2. Current Copyright Law Copyright Revision Act of 1976 [effective January 1, 1978]

3. What is protected? literary works (e.g., all text, including computer software); musical works; dramatic works; pantomimes and choreographic works; pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works; motion pictures and other audiovisual works; sound recordings; architectural works.

4. What is not protected? ideas, concepts, or discoveries; titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; improvised speech; works consisting entirely of information that is commonly available and contains no originality; anything written or created by the US government.

5. Many teachers still have the question: “ Am I allowed to copy this material???” The answer is-Well, it depends!!!! Maybe the following scenarios will help teachers with the dreaded question.

6. Yes or No? Your ELA students are writing an expository essay on Whether or not teens should cut down on fast foods. You run multiple copies of a pamphlet from the USDA on the nutritional facts of certain fast foods. Is this OK?

7. YES!!!!! Yes! You are allowed to make copies of this. It is a work published by the US Government. No work published by the US Government is covered by the Current Copyright Law.

8. Yes or No??? A teacher wants to run copies of a blank workbook that he uses regularly to teach certain skills in his class.

9. It depends! This is a big issue for classroom teacher. The material is use to promote education and the teacher is not coping the entire workbook. However workbooks are considered consumable materials. The best answer: obtain permission from the publisher.

10. Yes or No??? (This on is for the professor!) The professor has heard the complaints of her students about the high cost of the text and decides to digitize the text. Is this OK?

11. NO!..but we can all wish The textbook cannot be digitize even though it is used for educational purposes. This would severely effect the sales of this particular textbook so it would be in violation of fair use.

12. One last thing to remember…. ©Limit use of copyrighted materials to your classroom ©Give proper credit ©When in doubt, get permission ©Assume it’s copy written!