This study reviews the development of photocopying and its role in education, and traces the corresponding political responses of educational and university library associations in the effort to revise U.S. copyright law. Relationships between the information explosion and the phenomenon of neo-publishing are indicated. (Author)

The Ad Hoc Committee on Copyright Law Revision describes its position in a question and answer format. General questions about the committee and its objectives are followed by a description of the differing needs of copyright holders and educators. Since the committee's primary concern is that educators have adequate access to and use of…

An interview with the general counsel of Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation clarifies the new copyright issues. (Author)

Discusses the Copyright Act, four factors that courts must consider in determining permission by the "fair use" doctrine, and the educational exemption for using copyrighted software. Suggests that the best strategy in determining fair use is to contact the publisher, as well as requesting guidelines from the United States Copyright Office. (AEF)

School boards can formulate policies concerning the reproduction and use of copyrighted materials based on recent court interpretations of the following general factors in "fair use" exemption: reasons for copying, nature of reproduced material, amount of work as a whole copied, and effect of copying on potential market for copyrighted…

The implications of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976 for the use of videotapes in the classroom is examined in light of the recent marketing of home videotaping units. Universal Studios vs Sony Corp. is discussed, along with problems that are left unresolved by the new copyright act. (BH)

The legality of certain teaching practices is being questioned. The controversy arises from the application of the 1909 copyright law to the use of the new copying technology. This information aid considers the current copyright law and the needs and practices of educators. The stickiest part of copyright law is the fair use doctrine, which allows…