Ls521 summer
07-08-02
Below are two scenarios that reflect copyright issues.
You create a web link to the CBS - David Letterman Web page, the Right to Life and the Right to Choice web pages on your school's home page. Your principal instructs you to remove them from the schools links.
I would have a discussion with the principal about what I believe to be true regarding creating a web link to these sites on our school’s home page. It is my understanding that the building’s media specialist, in conjunction with the SIT (School Improvement Team) Committee, creates the school’s home page and maintains it to reflect the school’s initiatives. I would have to go through both of those sources before moving forward with the addition of these links. Having said that, after viewing the copyright policies of the CBS for the David Letterman Show at www.cbs.com/info/user/_services/pol_copyright.shtml , it is my understanding that our school has the right to create a link to the David Letterman Site without any copyright infringements being made. The David Letterman Show has a disclaimer at the CBS site mentioned above stating that they do not endorse any site that has a hyperlink to their site and do not take any responsibility for the information at that site being accurate. Our school would be prohibited from posting any material from that site, along with the show’s logo. The material and logo are derived from material supplied by CBS and would be protected by US and International copyright laws and trademark laws. I would however respect the principal’s opinion about having these particular sites on an elementary school’s home page. Probably, the Right to Life and the Right to Choice sites would be viewed as inappropriate topics for this age group anyway. After viewing the potential links at the David Letterman Site, I would say it is inappropriate as well.
Mr. Jamweimer, the parent of one of our most intellectual students, has paid to download a wonderful computer software program for his little Einstein. Mr. Jamweimer wants "our school" to be the best and sends a copy of the download file to be used by the students on the computers at school. P.S. all of the kids use it and win Nobel prizes in science, literature, physics, chemistry, and playground.
Mr. Jamweimer will be committing a copyright infringement as soon as the software is downloaded. He has permission to use the software with his “Einstein” and not with the rest of the school on school computers. “Fair use” applies to Mr. Jamweimer because he was the purchaser of the software. He is allowed to make a backup copy to be used only if the original fails, but he does not have permission to download it on the school’s computer. The school could check into the possibility of installing the software on one school computer, for limited personal use or for use with students, depending on the licensing agreement on the software. The best rule of thumb is: when in doubt ASK PERMISSION from the author or publisher.