Copyright and Fair Use

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Copyright & Fair Use

When writing reports, presenting information, or creating multimedia, teachers and students often reference, remix, or recreate the work of others. Before simply jumping in and using any work you please, it is important to remember that when using work that is not your own, you are obligated to follow copyright law. For example, when students reference or directly quote others' work in research papers or presentations, they must use proper citations. When teachers use images or video in a Canvas course, in lessons, or on classroom walls, they must ensure they have permission to use them and that they give credit to the creators of the works they use.

 

Writing Copyright

Let's start by understanding what copyright is:

Copyright is "the legal right to be the only one to reproduce, publish, and sell a book, musical recording, etc., for a certain period of time" (merriam-webster.com Links to an external site.). Did you know that the rights to every photo ever created are automatically owned by the photographer without them having to file a single form? Most popular songs, movies, and stories are also copyrighted. This definitely affects what you can and cannot use for your own purposes.

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