Did you know?

• You can violate copyright even if you don't sell the copies you have made.
• Your own work is protected by copyright even if you don't give copyright notification and register your work with the Library of Congress.

Copyright law protects the rights of the individual who creates the original work. In addition, the law provides reasonable access to the work. This access comes through particular limitations on copyright, including the principles of fair use.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind with regards to copyright:

• Posting material to the Internet should be done only after a careful copyright analysis. The nature of the Internet - effectively 'publishing' material to millions - automatically makes it a high risk proposition.
• Be aware that e-mail is copyrighted. Web custom and usage would probably allow the forwarding of an e-mail message to a limited number of appropriate and interested parties, but posting another's e-mail to a large group such as a Listserve or Usenet group without permission should probably not be done.
• If the TEACH Act requirements are met faculty are afforded the use of copyrighted materials in digital online education efforts without having to obtain prior permission from the copyright owner (however, fair use guidelines need to followed).
• The TEACH Act is a compromise between the needs of academia to make free use of copyrighted materials as an efficient and effective teaching tool, and the needs of copyright holders to protect the value of their work effort.

Suggested reading for those wanting to learn more about copyright and educational use at KCC.

• Employee Tutorial (see menu to the left)
• Teach Act and DMCA (see menu to the left) 
• Permission Information
• Fair Use Checklist
• Educational Use Lesson (PPT)