Copyright

Students and faculty often want to use copyrighted works in their course materials. The 1976 Copyright Act and the 2002 TEACH Act contain provisions that allow us to lawfully use materials without requiring copyright permission. The provisions of The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH) specifically address the use of some or all of a copyrighted work in the digital environment.

Please take the time to read through the TEACH Act Powerpoint presentation and the Primer on Copyright. The documents on this Web site will provide you with specific background information and guidelines regarding the use of copyrighted works. Forms are also provided for your convenience: to check compliance with copyright law, to request copyright permission, and to use as copyright notices.

Introduction to Copyright, Fair Use, and the TEACH Act

Step 1: Primer on Copyright – Provides a summary of Fair Use, Library Exemptions, and Classroom Exemptions in the 1976 Copyright Act.

Step 2: TEACH Act presentation – A PowerPoint presentation that highlights the new provisions in the 2002 copyright law that allow transmission of copyrighted works (or parts thereof) to a legitimate student audience for a limited time, without permission or license fees while preventing dissemination that could undermine the market for the works.

Useful Checklists, Worksheets, and Sample Statements and Forms

Step 3: TEACH Act Copyright Notice Requirements – The TEACH Act requires the instructor to display specific information within the distance or distributed learning course if copyrighted materials are used. A sample statement is provided along with links to UH institutional policy and other copyright sources.

Step 4: Fair Use Worksheet – Designed to assist you in determining whether you may use portions of copyrighted works in your teaching and scholarship. The completed worksheet should be kept with your instructional/copyrighted materials as proof that a reasonable judgment was made in determining Fair Use.

Step 5: Basic TEACH Act Checklist – Use this checklist to determine whether or not faculty, staff, and students are in compliance with the TEACH Act.

Step 6: Permissions Guide – A quick questionnaire to determine whether or not the proposed use requires permission from the copyright holder.

Step 7: Permission to Copy, Distribute, and Display a Copyrighted Work Form – A customizable Word form letter which can be used to request the use of copyrighted materials.

The University of Hawaii thanks Peggy E. Hoon, North Carolina State University Libraries and the Scholarly Communication Center, for granting permission to use materials in The TEACH Toolkit, NCSU.

Last updated on 08/14/2008 by Leanne Chun, EMC Coordinator