Teaching & Copyright

Instructors often want to reproduce copyrighted materials in course handouts, packets, multimedia presentations, course reserves, and course/instructor web sites. Instructors also create new works for teaching purposes that are in turn protected by copyright. Instructors can find a basic copyright overview in this web site, as well as practical guidance for common situations. (Note that topics herein are not legal advice and do not substitute for legal counsel.)

In deciding whether it is permissible to reproduce a copyrighted work for use in teaching, the instructor should determine whether the intended use qualifies as fair use (try these checklists), is allowed under another legal exception, or if the work is available under a license agreement. If not, the instructor should seek permission to use it or seek alternative resources.

1. Copyright Basics: What is Copyright?
2. Classroom handouts (distributing others' copyrighted works)
3. Course packs
4. Course reserve
5. Displaying images, music, video when teaching. See also Exceptions (110(2)), Distance Education, and TEACH Act.
6. Distance education
7. ePortfolios and DigitalCommons@UConn
8. Instructors' lectures, notes, handouts, and displays (instructors' copyright)
9. Internet (Web Pages, Linking, Downloading, File Sharing, etc.)
10. Library online content: licensed resources and digital collections
11. Multimedia (in teaching or in student assignments)
12. TEACH Act (relates to online and distance education)
13. Teaching online
14. Using or publishing student work
15. HuskyCT (course management system)
16. Who to contact if you have further questions.

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Content in this page was used or adapted with permission from one or more institutions. Please see acknowledgements.