A FAQ on copyright and the web:

I found a great graphic on a website. Can I copy it to my website?
Yes, you can. Just right-click on it (Windows), or hold the mouse button down on it for 1 second (Macintosh), and from the pop-up menu, choose the option to save the image.

May I do this?
No, you may not, unless the website explicitly says that you may.

Why can't I?
Because all creative works are copyrighted as soon as they are created. This includes drawings, text, music, and inventions.

I thought that things aren't copyrighted until they were registered or something.
You thought wrong.

But doesn't the page have to have the copyright sign, and say "copyright 1999 by Joe Blow. All rights reserved" for it to be protected by copyright law?
No. In order to be protected by copyright law, the work has to be created. As soon as it is created, it is copyrighted.

Are you sure about that?
Yes.

What about "fair use?" Doesn't that give teachers the right to copy things for educational use?
Maybe. "Fair use" is a term that had not been defined very well. There are some things that you can not do, even for educational purposes.

Can I digitize a movie, or parts of a movie, and put it on my website?
No, you can't.

But what if I bought the movie?
You didn't buy the movie. You bought a videocassette, and permission to view the videocasette in your own home. Therefore, you may not use it on your website.

So there's no way I can digitize video and put it on my website?
You can put video that you shot by yourself on your website. Or, you can write to the distributor of a movie (Fox, United Artisits, Touchstone, etc), and ask for permission to use some of the video for your website.

Any chance of getting that permission from a movie distributor?
Not in our lifetime.

What about getting permission from publishers?
I've seen people getting permission to have limited amounts of material from a textbook on a website. Email the publisher (not the author!) for permission

What about getting permission to reproduce materials on other websites?
Generally, people don't have a problem with other people copying their materials. Just remember that they have the right to refuse permission.

What about music?
Unless you have explicit permission from the owner of the copyright for the material, you may not put copyrighted materials on the web.

What about on a password-protected website?
Good question. The jury seems to still be out on that one. It is probably the case that a password-protected website is under the same restrictions that govern classroom use of copyrighted materials.

Are you a lawyer?
No, I'm not. I just play one on tv <grin>.

I don't believe that you have your facts straight. Where did you get your information?
You can find information on these pages:

• 10 myths about copyright: http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
• U.S. Copyright Office: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/faq.html
• MIT's Copyright: Frequently Asked Questions: http://web.mit.edu/cwis/copyright/faq.html
• The copyright website: http://www.benedict.com/
• Groton Public Schools' Copyright Implementation Manual: http://groton.k12.ct.us/mts/cimhp01.htm
  

I'm a lawyer, and I found a serious error on your page that I can document. I'd like to give you the correct information.
Please contact me at hooping4@msu.edu