This paper presents an overview of copyright issues for research and teaching. The first section provides historical background from the origin of the concept of copyright in 1557 in Britain to the present. The second section looks at fair use, including parameters and guidelines for reproduction. The following sections discusses the Berne…

Examines some of the disagreements that exist over the nine-point set of "Guidelines for Off-Air Recording of Broadcast Programing for Educational Purposes." (HOD)

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…

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada's comments on proposed changes in Canadian copyright law, and further changes implied by or caused by those revisions, are presented. The association argues first that since the proposed revisions are being revealed in stages, legislative committee work should be suspended until all of the…

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…

This handbook is designed to provide guidelines for members of the Salt Lake Community College (Utah) community, faculty, administrators, staff, and students to follow in using copyrighted materials legally and appropriately. Perhaps the most often misinterpreted section of the U.S. Copyright Law of 1976 is Section 107: Limitations on Exclusive…

Recent federal revenue rulings conclude that sale of broadcast rights to national radio and television or an independent producer by a tax-exempt organization does not constitute an unrelated trade or business. The rulings and their potential effects on colleges and universities are examined. (MSE)

The unauthorized reproduction of printed material in electronic form, particularly using optical scanning, is rising and would be impossible to monitor. The publishing industry is trying to establish the extent of the trend and determine how to cope with the copyright problems it raises. (MSE)

Provides an overview of copyright regulations and examines issues of special concern for distance educators, including ambiguities in fair-use regulations. Notes rules concerning exclusive rights of copyrights holders, fair-use provisions, factors used to determine fair-use eligibility, and exemptions for "face-to-face" instruction. Provides…

A federal appeals court has revised its opinion in a widely-watched copyright case, indicating that the ruling was not intended to apply to professors or independent scientists, but critics see the revision as even more confusing. The opinion found that copying scholarly journal articles by a corporate scientist did not qualify under the fair-use…

A federal court ruled that Kinko's Graphics Corporation, a national chain of photocopying stores, infringed on publishers' copyrights by reproducing excerpts from books and selling them in anthologies for college students. The firm was judged to be engaged in the publishing business and thus not covered under the law's provision of fair use for…

At the end of the two-year term of the first licenses for performance of music copyrighted under the new copyright law, the "model" licenses are being reconsidered. Considered here is whether an institution should sign a model license, or any other license, based on reference to the law itself. (MSE)

Educators today have access to technologies that provide both new information sources and new methods of copying, adapting, and transporting information into the classroom. The purpose of this article is to help educators properly interpret and apply copyright law to the use of video as an instructional tool. (38 footnotes) (MLF)

Discusses media directors' knowledge of copyright law at higher education institutions. The results of two surveys about copyright are presented showing that only 10-15% of media directors could reach a 75% competency level of the law. Some guidelines for correcting this situation are presented. (JLB)

This pamphlet discusses how colleges and universities can protect themselves and their employees from liability for copyright infringement. The pamphlet outlines types of works that are copyrightable and notes that certain infringements of copyrights are excused under the doctrine of "fair use." The four factors in determining fair use are…