Copyright: Can I use that image in my classroom?

As you are creating online content, please remember that some content cannot be shared because of copyright. 

"Copyright generally requires you to get permission before you copy, distribute, or re-use someone else’s copyrighted work. But sometimes, permission isn’t needed because what you want to do qualifies as fair use. " -- Connect Safely, Educator's Guide to Creativity and Copyright 

What is copyright?

Copyright protects the medium of expression once it is put in tangible form.

The piece needs to be an original work of authorship, something you've created.   

Examples: 

Artwork- you can copyright a painting/sculpture/graphic

Books- you can copy right a book or part of  a book

Poems- you can copyright a poem

Photos- you can copyright photos

Painting/Fine Arts/ Graphics

Computer Code- you can copyright original code

You can't copyright facts, ideas, government documents, data, non-creative lists, or utilitarian objects.

 

Some quick things to consider. 

• Copyright infringement may happen even if you state where the content was borrowed from
• Fair Use does allow students and educators to use portions of someone else's copyrighted work without getting permission.
• Creative Commons (https://creativecommons.org/) has millions of images that are copyright free or in the public domain.

Resources

If you are going to be using digital resources with your students, please take some time to review the following links.  

• Connect Safely Educator Guide on Copyright
• Connect Safely Creativity and Copyright Quick Guide
• Creative Commons Search
• More Copyright Links  for WPS faculty