The purpose of this brochure, which was produced as a service to the academic community, is to provide a brief outline of what can and cannot be done legally with software, and to clarify the implications and restrictions of the U.S. Copyright Law. Relevant facts concerning copying software precede the EDUCOM statement of principle on intellectual…

Discusses legal issues involved in developing and distributing multimedia publications. Examines libel; rights of publicity; and such elements of copyright law as copyright protections and infringements, fair use and public domain policies, and use of ideas and factual materials. Uses a hypothetical multimedia project to illustrate the legal rules…

This guide explains how the United Kingdom Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 affects librarians and information workers in professional bodies and charitable organizations, and offers guidance on interpreting the main provisions of the law. The guide begins by providing definitions, clarifying what materials are subject to copyright, the…

Discusses the possibilities for copyright infringement in classroom use of media material (e.g., videotaped television programs, slides of illustrations from books, and software). Reviews basics of copyright law; the doctrine of "fair use"; and considerations for audiovisual, multimedia, and software use. Stresses respect for others' work,…

The second article in a four-part continuing education course on legal issues affecting libraries and librarians addresses the issues of liability insurance, malpractice, and copyright laws pertaining to print materials and computer software. (12 references) (CLB)

This monograph presents examples of typical public school situations involving copyright issues; the advice provided is based on a conservative interpretation of the copyright law. The following topics are discussed: history and liability; fair use; print materials; audiovisual works; computer software; interlibrary loan, photocopying, facsimile,…

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 book was written to help educational institutions and their faculty and students meet the responsibilities of U.S. copyright law. Part I is a model board policy written for large or small school district or college and university boards. The policy can be modified to meet specific needs. Part II contains the details and procedures applying to…

The Copyright Act of 1976, particularly the guidelines on fair use, did much to clarify the ambiguity of the 1909 Copyright Act in relation to new electronic media. Although some specific guidelines for teachers were included, it should be noted that microcomputers and disk drives were not yet widely available in 1976. Because experts were divided…

This manual presents guidelines and policies for California librarians and educators for the reproduction of copyrighted works. Guidelines cover the following types of materials: printed materials; sheet and recorded music; audio recordings (i.e., records, disks, tapes); films, videotapes, filmstrips, overhead transparencies, and slide programs;…

Designed to provide educators with guidance for the lawful reproduction of computer software, this document contains suggested guidelines, sample forms, and several short articles concerning software copyright and license agreements. The initial policy statement calls for educators to provide software developers (or their agents) with a…

Various legal methods, such as copyright, trade secret, and patent law, protect proprietary rights in computer software. Users of this software must respect these rights or face infringement lawsuits. (TE)

This book provides a step-by-step guide for librarians to find and analyze the various copyright issues in any library project, even with little or no previous knowledge of copyright law. The book discusses each section of copyright law that might apply to any library project. A series of flow charts provides a framework for decision making,…

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)

Building on the 1983 policy statement developed by the International Council for Computers in Education (ICCE), this statement recommends the adoption of a school district copyright policy, adoption of the suggested software use guidelines, and use of the copyright page of software documentation to ascertain user's rights, obligations, and licence…