Copyright - Good Habits

Educators, students, and administrators need to know the essentials of Copyright Law and Fair Use principles. Why is it so important?

• It is to everyone's advantage to stay legal and to feel comfortable with the use of copyrighted materials. Knowing copyright essentials and applying copyright and Fair Use principles correctly can prevent a very costly incident ($$$$)! With penalties for copyright infringement including actual damages, statutory damages of $100,000 per infringement, and the awarding of legal fees (often the most costly component) to the plaintiff, it is imperative that administrators, educators, and students are well informed.
• It is equally important that we take advantage of copyright exemptions and Fair Use to make the best and fullest use of the copyrighted works of others to enhance our teaching.
• Educational institutions must ensure that its faculty, students, and administrators are knowledgeable about copyright in order to make proper use of the exemptions.

The truth is: Copyright Law and Fair Use doctrines can be very confusing and often require attentiveness and astute evaluation of a particular setting to determine the correct course of action.

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