What You Should Know About Copyright

Many people believe that information they find on the Internet is copyright free. This is not true. Unless stated, all of that information belongs to someone, some company or some organization. If you wish to use material you find, you must follow certain rules. The following sites offer information to teachers and students on the do's and don'ts of the copyright law. The books in the bibliography may be found in the WHS Library.

Web Sites About Copyright

• The American Library Association page on Copyright.
  
• Brad Templeton's Page
  Brad Templeton exposes 10 myths about copyright.
• Copyright and the Internet This site was written and posted for the students at George Mason Univiversity. It is readable and to the point.
• The Teach Act
  The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act is important for teachers and students of distant learning.
• United States Copyright Office

Books About Copyright

Bielefield, Arlene and Lawrence Cheeseman. Technology and
       Copyright Law: A Guidebook for the Library, Research, and
       Teaching Professions.New York: Neal-Schuman Pub., Inc. 1997.

Reed. Mary Hutchings.  The Copyright Primer for Librarians and 
        EducatorsChicago: American Library Association;
        Washington, D.C.: National Education Association, 1987.  

Simpson, Carol.  Copyright for Schools: A Practical Guide. 3rd ed. Worhtington, Ohio :
        Linworth Publishing, c2001.      
       
Talab, R.S.  Commonsense Copyright: A Guide to the New 
         Technologies.Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. Inc., 1986.

Fair Use Of Copyrighted Material

Copyright law allows use of copyrighted material by teachers and students under certain conditions.

1. What is the purpose of the use? Is it commercial or educational?
2. The type and content of the copyrighted material.
3. The amount of the work used in relation to the entire work.
4. How will the use effect the marketability of the original work?

Web Sites About Fair Use

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