Reviews federal copyright laws protecting computer software and what school districts must do to be in compliance with the law. (PKP)

This digest presents a reprint of an article which addresses the issue of the rights of computer software owners to duplicate materials. A conservative approach to software copyright is taken which looks to how the law will likely be interpreted, rather than waiting for the definitive decision by a court. Three major issues involved with software…

This discussion of copyright protection for computer programs focuses on the "first sale doctrine" and "shrink wrap" licenses, copyright of databases, copyright ownership, and copyright notices. (EM)

Explains provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976, highlighting the fair use doctrine, which allows limited reproduction and use without copyright owners' permission under certain conditions. Fair use may be successfully invoked for reproducing protected materials for classroom use if each copy bears the copyright notice and the reproduction…

Discussion of the effects of copyright on microcomputer software highlights the nature of copyright and situations in which the copying of copyrighted software may be permitted. Rights that a purchaser should insist upon when contracting for computer equipment are noted, i.e., right to test hardware and software prior to purchase. (EJS)

Compares the development of copyright in the United Kingdom and the United States in relation to writing, literary works and other forms of intellectual property, and computer programs to show how writing is a unifying principle for documents and computers. (68 references) (EAM)

This review of sections of copyright laws most relevant to media librarians covers requirements of authors, sole rights of copyright owners, fair use and other exceptions to sole rights, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) case, the Sony case, exempt public performances, and computer software. Twenty-nine references are provided.…

Discusses the copyright act in general; presents a discourse on three sections of the law especially significant to computer programs (fair use, first sale, and like rights in computer programs); and discusses copying to and from hard disks and library liability with regard to the law's three specific sections. (MBR)

Provides guidelines intended to help teachers, librarians, and administrators recognize when they must obtain permission to copy, perform, or display a work. Reviews the exceptions to the copyright law and its application to photocopying, reproduction by libraries and archives, videotaping, live and transmitted performances, and computer programs.…

Discusses copyright problems that arose when Texas A&M University Library installed microcomputers dedicated to computer-assisted instruction and research-related use. Highlights include microcomputer software questions, protection under copyright law, fair use, computers and copyrights, contracts and agreements, archival copies, vendor…

Discusses the responsibility of the school library media specialist with respect to microcomputer software acquisition and usage. Copyright and the library media center, copyright infringement, remedies, and protection, strategies that can be used in obtaining and disseminating quality software, and policy development are noted. Thirteen…

Discussion of copyright issues involving computer software focuses on faculty examination of software for evaluation purposes. Two model examination copy licenses are proposed: one a circulating evaluation copy, for libraries and other centers where individual evaluators are not involved in copying; and one a distributable evaluation copy. (five…

Comments on court cases dealing with copyrighted materials of special interest to librarians highlight Williams and Wilkins case, Sony case dealing with videocopying, computer programs and databases, government and legal materials in public domain, musical works, and four factors of Section 107 (fair use) of 1976 Copyright Law. (109 references)…

The broad range of copyright issues educators face in the classroom are discussed. The discussion focuses on the fair use provision of the 1976 Copyright Act as it applies to the reproduction of print, software, and video materials. (SM)

Reviews copyright legislation; presents guidelines that should be used to determine whether educators' copying procedures or policies are in keeping with the copyright laws. Presents two scenarios wherein teachers are reproducing works for their classes and provides case law citations. (MLF)