Introduction

This web site is intended to provide information and initial guidance on the technological requirements of copyright in general, and the TEACH Act in particular. It outlines the various considerations regarding technology that must be taken into account by institutions intending to rely on TEACH in their educational activities. It DOES NOT offer definitive legal advice, however.

The TEACH Act permits nonprofit, accredited intuitions of higher education to place online the full texts of non dramatic written works, such as news articles, and poetry, as well as portions of dramatic works, such as plays and movies. As long as the materials are being used for courses, the institutions need not get the copyright holders' permission or pay royalties.

But, certain restrictions do apply -- more than a few, in fact. How can our campus go about applying these restrictions? Well, your University Library is committed to aiding in the first three restrictions:

• helping the campus community develop these copyright polices,
• educating instructors and staff members on copyright law,
• helping provide proper notice to students on copyrighted material.

And Blackboard™, a course management system available to all instructors on campus is well equipped to make the last two restrictions as easy as 1-2-3 for faculty:

• The copyrighted material can appear online only for the length of time that it is needed for the course.
• Only students enrolled in the course can have access to the material.

And YOUR job, is, as always...to apply the knowledge and expertise that only YOU have to instruct our students. That can't be replaced. Everything else, Blackboard™, film clips, online articles are only to supplement what you do best!

last modified on: November 8, 2006