BVSD Media Specialist Meeting, October 1997

 1. The DIMC has 3 videos on copyright that are fairly new. It is hard to be current always as the law changes with each case that is resolved. The would be good to include in a presentation to faculty and one is especially good for fourth/fifth grade with lesson plans.

2. She advised schools and others in libraries not to take on the role of interpreting the law. Have the guidelines available and let others interpret.

3. Internet publishing has changed the role of the middleman. Copyright law is always with the author. ALWAYS assume that things are copyrighted. The federal government information is in the public domain.

Look http:// www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/copyright/chart.html. This is the chart of when works pass into the public domain.

4. Look for the notice of copyright, ie symbol, word, date and holder. It can also be written into the text. Notice is optional since 1989 and must always be assumed.

5.There was a new act as of 1990 on the rights of the copyright owner. This assumes that work can not be altered. You can't remove a sculpture from its base, retouch any work, change the color. The suggestion here is to buy framed work so it can be moved. An example was given if something has been painted on the wall in a library it can not be covered with bookcases.

6. If a picture or article is missing from a bound work, ie cut out it can be replaced by photocopying.

7. If you send something by fax, you must send a copyright warning first. If it is a telephone request, you must read the warning.

8. It is recommended that you put a warning label on computers, VCRs. etc. so that the library will not be liable. and the person copying will be.

9. The web address for the Copyright Clearance Center where you can obtain information is as follows: http://www.copyright.com .

10. To obtain permission, use the U.S. Copyright Office at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/ .

11. Face to face teaching eliminates some of the problems with showing a video.

12. In regards to computer software, an archival copy is ok. You can load from the disk to a hard drive. Single use can be put on many computers but only one person at a time can use. Single use can not be put on a network even though one person uses at a time.

13. Listserv submissions are copyrighted.

14. Linking to sites is ok, to move information to a site is not.

15. You can not videotape the reading of a book.

16. To transfer the format of an item, ie an old record to a tape, you must write for permission.

17. Downloading from the Internet is the same as photocopying.

18. There is a difference between a site license and a network license. There is a grey area about transferring between the two. Do not be the one to be the test case!

19. You need to be asked by a teacher to tape at home, good for 10 days. You can not do it and save it for some future use.