This document provides an overview of copyright laws and best practices for using copyrighted works. It discusses the public domain, fair use, obtaining permissions, and laws like the TEACH Act that provide certain allowances for educational use. Key points include:
- Orphan works that lack identifiable owners can sometimes be used if efforts are made to find the owner.
- Content online may have implied licenses for limited use but not commercial use without permission. Creative Commons licenses explicitly grant broader rights.
- Fair use is determined case by case and permission is safer. Educational exceptions exist but have limitations like use only in class.
- The TEACH Act allows performance and display of works for students if criteria are met like supervision and securing