The Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), which has acted as an intermediary between copyright rightsholders and copyright users for over 20 years, is currently engaged in the centralized, "one-stop shop" licensing of distance education materials to colleges and universities (as well as other centralized licensing services) on behalf…

American copyright law provides a means of stimulating intellectual development and protecting the ownership interests of the authors of copyrighted works. Over the years, U.S. copyright law has evolved in order to respond to societal and technological changes. Under the copyright statute certain uses of a copyrighted work are permitted under the…

Multimedia presentations offer educators and other communicators new avenues to reach audiences, but they combine a variety of legal hazards. Producers of multimedia can end up on the receiving end of lawsuits based on the many facets of copyright, privacy, and defamation law, as this guide illustrates. Copyright gives authors, composers,…

This position paper of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges examines the increasing use of technology in education and the fundamental, academic implications of this increase for the traditional understanding of academic freedom, privacy, copyright, and fair use. This is the third paper in a four-part series. The widespread use of…

Analyzes potential changes in federal copyright law and the fair use doctrine in the digital age. Discusses three policy options for balancing the rights of copyright owners and users--maintaining the status quo; adopting the Information Infrastructure Copyright Act; and adopting proposed revisions of the Digital Future Coalition--using the…

Developments in telecommunications are encouraging many educational institutions to examine the potential of distance instruction as a means of reaching larger audiences separated by distance. One unforeseen problem in distance education may be possible copyright violations. This article addresses some of these concerns and suggests strategies for…

Discusses the impact of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Article 2B, dealing with licenses of information and software contracts, on information professionals. Mass market licenses, copyrights, standard form contracts, and impact on first sale are examined. A sidebar lists key World Wide Web sites and includes a sample letter of concern. (LRW)

Examines copyright issues related to online course development and delivery. Provides a brief history of copyright law. Examples of recent lawsuits and several case studies provide a context for examination of fair-use issues and liability for online copyright infringement. Presents questions to consider on topics such as process issues,…

Examines the nature of copyright, the current status of computer software in the context of copyright, and the applicability of the "Fair Use Doctrine" and "Classroom Guidelines" to instructional software and video as determined by relevant statute and case law. (Author/AEF)

This circular answers some of the questions that are frequently asked about copyright, a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to authors of "original works of authorship" including library, dramatic musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. The Copyright Act of 1976 (title 17 of the United States…

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 circular answers some of the questions that are frequently asked about copyright, a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of "original works of authorship" including literary, dramatic musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. The Copyright Act of 1976 (title 17 of the United…

Discusses guidelines of responsible use for copyrighted materials as determined by the courts. (RB)

Some pointers for video program users about rights governing use. (Author)

Photocopying and other topics are presented in Vols. 1 and 2 of the transcript of the Ninth Commission Meeting held in Arlington, Virginia in 1976. Topics in Vol. 1 include: (1) implications for the commission's work of the final provisions of the copyright bill; (2) study of a national periodical bank(s) for the U.S.; (3) the provision of…