Copy Right...Copy Wrong

Copyright laws protects "works of authority" which includes literacy works computer software, audiovisual works, dramatic work and sound recordings. Copyright law does not proect ideas, facts, words, names and symbols. These laws are designed to protect a creator's right to be compensated and to control how his or her work is used.

Educators often ask the questions, "What can  and my students use in our lessons, presentations and wokshops an what is protected by copyright". Virtually, the answer to this is every tangible expression is copyrighted upon creation. An author does not need to have to register his/her wok, it is copyright protected as soon as the work is created in tangible form. Copyright laws are mostly about money, that is if the work you use is unlikely to bring financial gain to the orginator - one will not be accused of copyright infringement. However, it simply will be seen as "bad manners". It would be most respectful to ask permission - particularly if one intends to post or quote from emails, message boards, lias to sites that contain video or audio. All software is not freeware, it is copyrighted on creation. Therefore, lets go back to copyright laws and the meaning to teachers. In a nutshell, teachers cannot show a video in class without acquiring public performance rights, Youtube videos must have a CC(Creation Common License), creative commons address the need for copylight listeners that promote open sharing of created work, distribution or use of copied material in the class is prohibited, unless payment is made to copyright owners. This is completed through copibec. Knowing this, as teachers we must take the responsibility of teaching our students about copyright laws. Role modeling and open discussions of materials shared in the classroom copyright laws and fair use should be part of daily repetoire. There are many publically avaiable activities online that are engaging and interactive that can be used in the classroom to reinforce copyright laws. We must encourage the value of original thinking and responsibility others work in our students!

Knowing this, as teachers we must take the responsibility of teaching our students about copyright laws. Role modelling and open discussion of materials shared in the classroom and copyright laws and fair use should be part of daily repetoire. There are many publically avaiable activities online that are engaging and interactive that can be used in the classroom to reinforce copyright laws. We must encourage the value of original thinking and respecting others work in our students!