Copyright
Law and School Media
Useful
Copyright Information for Students, Teachers and Others
What
is a copyright?
When someone copyrights what they have written--a book,
play, poem, magazine article or web page,
for instance--or what they have otherwise created--such as a song,
movie, software, or art--that
means they and they alone can control how their book, play, poem,
article, web page, song, movie,
software or art is used.
Copyrights are legal rights.
To copyright something, an original work is submitted to
the Library of Congress Copyright Office for
registration. The United States Copyright Office assigns copyrights.
Why are copyrights important?
Copyrighting is a way to make sure that people who
create literature, art, and other original works get
credit for what they worked hard to make, and can profit from their
work. This encourages other
people to advance ideas. Literature, art, and science move forward
because rights to original work
are protected.
Why do I have to know this?
It is against the law to misuse copyrighted
materials. There are penalties for breaking copyright laws,
just as there are penalties for breaking any law. People who break
copyright laws may be fined or
sued. Willful copyright violations are
considered criminal.
Plagiarism
(pronounced play-jar-ism)
is what it is called when you take credit for what someone
else has written or made. Plagiarism carries
penalties, too. Schools give failing grades to students
who plagiarize.
Plagiarism is wrong and often illegal.
Further Information
An excellent book on the subject is Copyright
for Schools: A practical guide, by C.M. Simpson,
located in reference area of our media center.
Teachers and administrators find this site helpful:
http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/plmc/copyright.html
The U.S. Copyright Office provides a question and answer site for
children:
http://www.cyberbee.com/cb_copyright.swf
References
Pressman, D. (2001). Copyright. In World
Book Encyclopaedia (Vol. 4, pp.1046-1048).
Chicago: World Book, Inc.
University
System of Georgia, Board of Regents, Office of Legal Affairs. Regents Guide to Understanding
Copyright & Educational Fair Use (1997). Retrieved October
9, 2004, from:
http://www.usg.edu/admin/legal/copyright/.
Haven Elementary School Media
Center
