Copyright Concerns

Overview: Copyright is one of the most easily confused areas of concern in higher education - and, indeed, the world outside learning. What materials can be used, in what way and for what purposes are topics that are not always clear to even the most seasoned media producer. We've compiled a few excellent resources to not only help you understand copyright but to offer you options for staying in the clear on your next project.

Copyright & Fair Use - Stanford: Stanford's online resource explains not only copyright and fair use with easy to read FAQs and explanations, but also gives clear information about the public domain, permissions and releases. The site provides up to date documentation and news from the copyright frontlines.

Center for Social Media - American University: AU has created their Center for Social Media as a launching point for using all forms of media in public works. This resource was created by the School of Communications at AU and offers in depth resources for creating projects that use cultural media to affect change for the common good.

TEACH Act - Penn State: The TEACH Act sets down guidelines for how educators can use public media in support of the classroom environment. Penn State has created a helpful guide for interpreting the TEACH Act and what it means in individual cases.
Media Search - Creative Commons: Once you understand the importance of using copyright-safe media in your projects, you may be wondering where you can find the right resources. Creative Commons (a pioneering copyright endeavor) has created a search engine that enables you to find CC licensed music, pictures and more from the web.

Overview