Copyright

Library material can be in used in your course content.  You should follow these best practices when adding resources for students to use.

• Course content should be provided through Canvas for students to access.  It is password protected, and ensures it is only being shared with those who need it.
• Linking to course material with a permalink should be used over uploading digital files.  Your Liaison Librarian can assist with providing the proper link to use if you need help.
• When the material is only available in print, you are able to upload a PDF to Canvas.  You should limit the file upload to print only articles or 1 or 2 chapters per book title.  If students require access to more than 1 or 2 chapters, they will either need to purchase a textbook copy, or borrow it from our course reserves.
• Videos available via the Library should be provided through a Permalink.
• Images available via the Library can be uploaded to course material, with the proper citation.

Material found online such as YouTube videos, documentaries, or other digital content should follow certain procedures for providing access. 

Procedures:

• A DVD or streaming media purchased should also have a license to show the content purchased by the department using the material.
• YouTube videos should be linked in the course material.
• Other types of online material not available via the Library should be checked for a Creative Commons (CC) license or be in the public domain.  Materials that meet this requirement can be linked to course material.
• Other materials should be evaluated for Fair Use before providing access.
• Copyrighted materials not falling under Fair Use will need to have copyright permissions obtained to use in course material.  Obtaining copyright permissions can either be asking the copyright holder for permission to reuse or purchasing copyright permissions via the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC).

Check out this recording of a workshop that introduces the essentials of copyright for teaching. Topics include copyright basics, in-person and online teaching exceptions, fair use, public domain, and creative commons.

U.S. copyright law allows for certain exceptions in copyright protection for teaching using copyrighted work as part of their classroom teaching.

In-Person Teaching Exception

The Classroom Use Exception only applies for in-person classroom instruction at a nonprofit educational institution (like ATSU). This exception only allows for the performance or display of copyrighted work without seeking permission. Some examples of this include

• showing a video in class
• using images in presentations
• reading parts of a book or article out loud

Note that this does not cover sharing articles with students. This can be done by using library materials or by conducting a fair use evaluation.

Online Teaching Exception

The TEACH Act allows instructors to perform or display copyrighted works in online education environments. It follows the same rules as the in-person teaching exception. Note that use of copyrighted material must be limited to enrolled students, so you must perform or display the works via Canvas, and not on public websites. Additionally, the materials must be essential to course content - this exception to not apply to supplemental material.

Fair Use is a provision within copyright law that allows anyone to reuse copyrighted material, provided the use is fair and meets certain criteria.

In teaching, Fair Use is often applied to thinks sharing articles for classroom use, one of the potential uses explicitly mentioned in the text of the law above. It is important to know that only a judge can determine fair use. However, using fair use to share works for teaching purposes is a long-established best practice in education and copyright law.

To learn more about Fair Use, click on the Fair Use tab in the navigation menu.