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Copyright Guide for Educators: Best
Practices

Simple Solutions to Avoid Copyright Infringement

Link to articles and web sites. While many licenses allow posting content to e-reserves or course management systems, such as WebCT, as a general practice the Libraries recommend creating a link to the electronic journal or database, not to the pdf. Then they are responsible for copyright.

Cite all uses of other people's work. If you use a clip of a song in your PowerPoint presentation, be sure to have a slide at the end that acknowledges the artist and from where the sound clip came.  If you incorporate a diagram from a book into a paper, be sure to indicate where you got it. Provide proper credit to sources when you use information obtained from books, periodicals or websites.

Get permission. If you think the use of the work does not fall under the fair use provision, then you must request permission from the copyright owner to use the copyrighted work.  This is the RIGHT and LEGAL thing to do.

You should not photocopy and distribute material. Students can make their own copy of materials without infringement.

Scanning to change the format is not compliant. You cannot scan an article or photograph from a journal and then put it on the Internet (ERes, LibGuides or web pages); the copyright would still reside with the author of the work.

When showing a film outside the classroom, ALWAYS check for public performance rights. If the film was not purchased with performance rights, the film cannot be shown outside the classroom unless ther is an educational component.  

§ 110. Limitations on exclusive rights: Exemption of certain performances and displays

Answers to Copyright Questions

United States Copyright Office

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What Not to Do

Do not put published consumable items such as workbooks, exercises, tests, test booklets, or answer sheets may not be placed on reserve.

Do not create an anthology from several sources to substitute for a textbook.

Do not put student-produced materials on reserve without the student’s written permission.

Do not copy, download, scan, digitize, or forward materials from the internet without the explicit consent of the copyright owner. Unless permission to use the materials is explicitly stated or falls within fair use.

Do not re-post such material on your own web site without permission. Instead, use a link to the source material.

Do not load or link to pdf's from databases, link to the database.

Do not use the same works for more than one semester, class, or course.

Do not use copyrighted work for commercial purposes.

Do not use copyrighted work without attributing the author.

Do not change the format! (Print to electronic)

Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement

The difference between copyright infringement and plagiarism:

Copyright infringement is using someone else's creative work, which can include music, videos, a movie clip, a piece of visual art, a poem, a photograph, or other creative works, without permission.

Plagiarism is using someone else's work without giving proper credit or the failure to cite the work adequately.

    The courts enforce copyright infringement.

    Schools enforce plagiarism.

More about plagiarism

Tutorials

Online Copyright Tools

Online Copyright Tools available from the Copyright Advisory Network

Fair Use Evaluator
http://librarycopyright.net/fairuse

Public Domain Slider
http://librarycopyright.net/digitalslider

Section 108 Spinner
http://librarycopyright.net/108spinner

Exceptions for Instructors eTool
http://librarycopyright.net/resources/exemptions/

Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).

Las Escuelas Públicas de Omaha no discriminan basados en la raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, estado civil, orientación sexual, discapacidad , edad, información genética, estado de ciudadanía, o estado económico, en sus programas, actividades y empleo, y provee acceso equitativo a los “Boy Scouts” y a otros grupos juveniles designados. La siguiente persona ha sido designada para atender estas inquietudes referentes a las pólizas de no discriminación: El Superintendente de las Escuelas, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531-299-9822).