1. May a photocopy of a short editorial from the newspaper be copied for use in a class?
   -- Yes.

2. May a photocopy of two frames from a microfiche be made for a class?
   -- Yes.

3. May an illustration from a periodical be digitized to show a class how an earthquake is located by triangulation using the classroom InFocus system?
   -- Yes.

4. May one photo from a book on dress style containing some 200 pictures be digitized for classroom viewing?
   -- Yes.

Multiple copying requests:

1. An instructor requests 22 copies of a one-page excerpt (approximately 450 words) of a book to distribute to students in a class. (Each student receives a free copy with the copyright notice printed on it). Is this permissible?
   -- Yes. The examples probably represent impulse copying to clarify a learning experience for each class. This example meet the tests of brevity, spontaneity, and cumulative effect.

2. An instructor requests 23 copies of a graph from a journal be made for distribution to the students in his/her class. Is this permissible?
   -- Yes. The examples probably represent impulse copying to clarify a learning experience for each class.  This example meet the tests of brevity, spontaneity, and cumulative effect.
   
   Multiple copies of the same material may not be requested in following semesters (not spontaneous). However, written permission may be sought from the copyright holder.

3. An instructor sees an article another instructor plans to use in class. May the second instructor use the article in their class?
   
   No, because it does not constitute "spontaneous use".

4. Do publishers usually grant colleges permission to use their materials?
   -- Yes.

Permissible music use:

1. May an instructor have a class perform parodies of popular songs?
   Note: parody is more than altering lyrics.
   -- Yes.  An idea or theme is not protected by copyright.

2. There is a performance in two weeks and the sheet music is not legible. May one copy be made for each student so they can learn the songs?
   -- Yes.  Replacement copies must be purchased as soon as possible.

3. May the instructor make a copy of a portion of a record to give students a sampling of the composer's style?
   -- Yes. The excerpts should not be a performable unit, such as a section, movement, or aria.

4. Can the class use some popular music in their video production?
   -- Yes. The production may not be shown outside the college.

5. May the instructor audio tape several segments of a music CD to instruct or test the students?
   -- No. This could be construed as creating an anthology.

6. May an instructor copy worksheets for use by each student in the class?
   -- No. Consumables may not be photocopied without permission.

7. Must every copy made include the copyright notice?
   -- Yes.

Permissible Broadcast Program Use

1.  May a program broadcast by the local cable system be videotaped for classroom use?
-- Yes. If it is a basic service, not pay per view.

2.  If another instructor wants to preview the program, may I make a copy for him/her?
-- Yes. He/she may keep it for 45 days.

3.  The library purchases a video that does not have public performance rights. May an instructor send a student who missed the showing to the library to view it?
-- No. If public performance rights were not purchased the video may be viewed only in the classroom or home.

4.  May a video rented from the local video store be shown in the classroom?
-- Yes. Home use only videos may be used as part of "face-to-face" teaching.

5.  The instructor will not be in class today, may a video be shown to entertain the students?
-- No. Videos must be part of the course syllabus.

6. Does the copyright law distinguish between televising via closed circuit and using a video player in the classroom?
-- No.

7.  May the college access channel televise a student production so parents may view it at home?
-- Yes.

8.  A faculty member taped a mini-series, but wants to edit it down to two hours. May he/she?
-- Yes. Excerpts are permissible as long as the program is not altered from the original content or meaning.

9.  May the commercials be deleted from a broadcast television program?
-- Yes. Commercials are not part of the program.

Media & Web Pages

1. A faculty member is using PowerPoint to present her course content. May the commercial slides she uses be digitized?
   -- No. Permission would have to be obtained from the copyright holder because this is changing the format.

2. When can faculty digitize slides?
   1) If the faculty member is the copyright owner; 
   2) if the slides are in the public domain; 
   3) if the copyright holder gives permission.

3. A faculty member found a web page he liked. Can he copy it and save some design time?
   -- No. Web pages are copyrighted.

4. A faculty member's favorite recording artists are Ferranti and Teicher. May she put some of their music on her web page?
   -- No. Music published since 1923 is copyrighted.

5. An instructor teaches history. He wants to put a recent newspaper article about WWI on his web page. It is already in digital form. What should he do?
   -- Write the copyright holder for permission, or provide a link from his web page to the resource.

6. An instructor is developing a web-based course. She wants to provide assigned readings for the students. May she create a digitized file for the students?
   -- Check with the Library to see if the readings are available in a subscription database and embed the URLs in the course.

July 2010