Copyright & Teach Act

Limiting access to copyrighted works to students currently enrolled in the class:

• Post copyrighted materials within Canvas shells rather than on public web sites.
• Limit access to Canvas materials to students rostered into Canvas shells for courses in which they are formally enrolled.

Limiting access only for the time needed to complete the class session or course:

• Take down Canvas shells several weeks after the class has ended.
• Consider establishing a “fair use practice” within persistent Canvas organizations. (e.g. request permission, post an active URL, ask individuals to make a backup copy for their own personal use from that URL, using Library persistent URLs where possible, etc.)

Informing instructors, students, and staff of copyright laws and policies:

• Inform instructors, students, and staff about copyright laws and policies using web sites and print documentation.
• Produce LTU brochure for distribution to faculty, staff, and students. Brochure should abstract information available on LTU and other web sites and from training sessions. Include web site link(s) in the brochure.
• Include a “dragnet clause” in faculty and staff contracts to cover all University policies.
• Consider obtaining an annual signature signifying compliance with University policies … how best to do this for staff?
• Option: develop a short computer-based training program for copyright information which concludes with a request for agreement with University policy … the results of the training would be retained in a database.
• Include TEACH Act component in full-time faculty and adjunct faculty orientation sessions.
• Include copyright information and copyright law for students as part of the freshman University Seminar course.
• Consider how to provide copyright information to transfer students? Note that Michigan CC’s are TEACH Act compliant.
• How best to provide information to staff? Perhaps through Staff Senate or as part of traditional HR orientation program.

Preventing further copying or redistribution of copyrighted works:

• Use persistent URLs from digital resources provided through the LTU Library, as these generally include a proxy statement to thwart unregistered users.
• Use Canvas external links to copyrighted materials hosted on provider web sites rather than posting actual copies of copyrighted materials on Canvas.
• Stream any copyrighted video content from secure servers.
• LTU Library can provide secure reserve desk services for print and electronic items.
• Use the Copyright Clearance Center to obtain permission to use copyrighted works (the Library can help broker this request).
• Need to distribute and interpret LTU Intellectual Property policy in light of TEACH Act.

Not interfering with copy protection mechanisms:

• Post warnings within Canvas regarding redistribution and tampering with copy protection mechanisms.
• Watermark and copy-protect all copyrighted materials posted within Canvas.