Copyright is the law, and it is essential for teachers and students to know and understand copyright laws as they constantly work with the property of others. This work can provide an opportunity to acknowledge or violate copyright guidelines. Irving ISD’s acceptable use policy (AUP) requires the school community to uphold all copyright laws. Violating copyright could lead to legal consequences as well as termination of a job position. Fair use guidelines allow the use of some materials without violating the law. To evaluate whether a particular usage of a copyrighted work qualifies as fair use, a court will consider these four things:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether it's of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes,
2. The nature of the copyrighted work,
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.

Copyright in the digital age is even more challenging as users have access to materials online. Property in both print and online belong to the creator of the work. It is more important than ever to remember these four simple rules whether you are working with print or online materials. 

For more information, teachers and staff click below.