Have you found yourself wondering if you can:
1. Post something to the college learning management system (LMS) or your webpage in support of your class?
2. Show a movie in your class?
3. Distribute an article from a magazine to distribute to all students in your class?
Many of you are wondering and some of you have contacted the library to consult with us about posting material online. When you consult with us, we hear your devotion to our students and witness the creativity of your teaching styles. You are looking for a simple yes or no answer. Under the current rules of copyright, we cannot give you a simple yes or no answer. We ask you to look at the basic definition of Copyright:
The U.S. Copyright Office states, “Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed”.
What this means is that the law grants to owners a set of specified rights: reproduction of works; distribution of copies; making of derivative/transformative works; and the public performance and display of works. The material that you wish to post in your class LMS or website may violate the owner’s rights. Fortunately, the Fair Use Checklist is available for AACC faculty and staff to use in determining what they may or may not post. Think of Fair Use as a balancing test. You are balancing your right to post material in your class LMS or website against the owner’s right to control access to his work. Please review the explanation of the four factors on the Fair Use tab and then complete the Fair Use Checklist to determine if the work that you wish to post in your class LMS or website is considered fair use.
The most important resource in the library is the librarians who are eager to assist you. Don't spend more than 10 or 15 minutes looking for information without finding it. Ask for help!
Cindy Steinhoff x2483
cksteinhoff@aacc.edu