Copyright

Could you be the next teacher to end up in a lengthy court case, facing huge fines for doing something that you never thought to be wrong? With the huge influx of technology, especially the internet, we have been on information overload. At a click of the mouse it is very easy to find endless information, not to mention pictures to copy and paste into anything we wish. But is it legal?

All of the copyright laws can be confusing and unclear, but as educators we need to do the best we can to not only guide our students towards following these laws, but also ourselves. The Fair Use guidelines do protect educators to some extent when using information for the sole use of education, but there are still many guidelines to follow. Students are sent mixed messages on a regular basis when different teachers ask differently of them when it comes to citing information and what they may use. We need to come together as a district and make sure to follow the copyright laws and consistently enforce those laws for not only the students, but also the faculty.


What to do?

1. Educate teachers on the copyright laws; the importance of abiding by these laws for themselves and their students: This could be done as yet another professional development day, or simply by giving the teachers the information about copyright. The information should not only include the laws and the interpretation of the laws, but also examples of individuals that have run into legal battles because of not abiding by these laws.

Pros: By equipping the teachers with the information on the copyright laws and their consequences, the responsibility is placed on the teacher to be aware of what they are using in their classroom that could be illegal. This should decrease copyright infringement in the school. This will really benefit those that do not really understand the copyright laws that have to do with the education field. There are many common misconceptions that could be corrected.

Cons: It will take some time for the teachers to read the information given to them and to make sure they understand the copyright laws. If the information is presented in a professional development day, it will cost the district. Some school employee will need to take the time to put this presentation together for the teachers.


2. Create a district wide copyright policy for teachers and students.
A district wide policy will help to show consistency, and the importance of copyright laws, to both the teachers and the students. There should be accountability for the teachers coming from administration as to their following of the copyright policy in their classrooms.

Pros: Students will know what is expected of them to protect from copyright infringement, and it will be consistent in all of their classes. They will not see copyright as a certain teacher’s interpretation, but rather as an important issue that is consistently enforced throughout all of their classes regardless of the teacher or subject.

Cons: It will take some time to put together a district wide policy and the administration will need to enforce the policy so that it is taken seriously by the faculty and students.