Copyright law applies to the digital environment.
Accordingly, copyright material in digital form is
protected in the same way as material in any other media. For example, text and images on a
website are copyrighted in the same way as printed material. However, in practice, teaching in
a
digital learning environment is slightly different to teaching with the use of printed media.
For
example, just because it is permissible to photocopy an image and include it in a handout does not
necessarily mean it is permissible to include that image on an intranet site.
Do not be scared of, or intimidated by, copyright.
While copyright protects the rights of copyright
owners, it also seeks to promote the free flow and exchange of information by providing a number of
ways that third party copyright material may be reproduced or communicated. Copyrighted
material may be legally reproduced or communicated in many circumstances.
We strongly encourage you to learn as much as you can
about copyright to ensure you do not
infringe copyright laws. However, where copyright is genuinely inadvertently infringed and the
infringer responds promptly and responsibly as soon as the infringement is detected, in the unlikely
event that the copyright owner proceeds to take the infringer to court, the fact that the infringement
was inadvertent is likely to reduce the penalties. This is especially the case if the actual damages
suffered by the copyright holder are nil and if the infringer has not profited from the inadvertent
breach of copyright. Having said that, it is important to make a real effort to understand copyright
law and avoid infringement. Above all, use common sense. If you are profiting from someone
else’s work or if your use of someone else’s work will deny them revenue then tread very carefully.
Treat others as you would have them treat you.
