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Copyright General Guidelines

Portion Limitations:

The following portions of copyrighted materials may be included in a computer-generated multimedia work:

  • Motion media - up to 10% or 3 minutes, whichever is less, from the entire presentation
  • Text - up to 10% or 1,000 words, whichever is less
  • Poems of 250 words or less - the entire poem may be included but no more than 3 poems per poet
  • Poems longer than 250 words - copyright limits use to only 250 words of any poem, in including the poem in a multimedia work, use only 3 excerpts by a poet and no more than 5 excerpts by different poets
  • Music, lyrics, and music videos up to 10% but not more than 30 seconds; alterations to music may not change the basic character of the melody
  • Illustrations and photographs - up to 10% or 3 minutes, whichever is less, from the entire presentation
  • Motion media - not more than 10% or 15 images, whichever is less, and no more than 5 images from a single artist or photographer

Copying and Distribution Limits:

  • No more than 2 copies for use may be produced of the multimedia work, only 1 copy of which may be placed on reserve
  • One preservation copy may be made for use or to be copied as a replacement for a lost, stolen, or damaged working copy

Downloading material from the Internet:

  • Assume that all material on the Internet is copyright protected
  • Properly cite net resources used in a multimedia work
  • Request permission when in doubt or when use will extend beyond the classroom
  • Obtain permission from the webmaster to link to a website

Photocopying Guidelines:

Caution must be taken to follow the copyright laws when photocopying materials for use in the classroom. It is the responsibility of the classroom teacher to be aware and abide by copyright laws.
For research, teaching, or teacher preparations - single copies may be reproduced as follows:

1) one book chapter, 2) periodical or newspaper article, 3) short story, short essay, or short poem, and 4) chart, graph, diagram, cartoon or picture from books, periodicals, or newspapers.

Consumable materials may not be copied.

  • This includes workbooks, exercises, standardized tests, and test booklets.
  • Some magazines and books of exercises give copy rights to the person who has purchased the materials. If this is true, a statement in the front of the publication will indicate that copies may be made.
    NOTE: Cartoon characters, which are copyrighted and/or syndicated, may not be copied for any purpose.

Multimedia Guidelines:

These guidelines apply to the production of computer-generated multimedia works, which include text, audio, or video from copyrighted sources.

Students may produce a multimedia work using material from copyrighted sources if:

  • The work is produced for a specific course
  • The work is performed or displayed in the course for which it was created

Students may include the multimedia work in a portfolio

  • As evidence of academic work
  • To support an application for a professional position
  • For graduate school

Educators may use multimedia works that incorporate copyrighted material:

  • For instruction in multimedia development
  • In curriculum-based instruction which involves face to face instruction, directed self-study by students, or remote instruction on a secured network in which a password is needed to access the network.
  • In peer conferences such as workshops and professional conferences
  • As part of a professional portfolio

Time limitations for multimedia works:

  • Students may use only during the time period of the class for which the work was produced or retain the work for portfolio use.
  • Educators may use the work for teaching for up to 2 years after the first instructional use with a class or retain the work for portfolio use.