MAC Week One Week One Reading: Copyright Issues
Copyright laws seem to have many grey areas. I am always uncertain and try to err on the safe side. My school district was in a copyright dispute with a publishing company a few months ago. The following link from the Toledo Blade newspaper explains what is going on:
The claim states “Align, Assess, Achieve entered into a copyright license agreement with TPS for company books and materials that provide teacher guidance in meeting the Common Core education standards… TPS could only use the works to prepare pacing guides for the teachers for whom the district had bought the company's book. Despite the agreement, according to the complaint, TPS in August had teachers transcribe the copyrighted work in its entirety. The district later posted the copies on its intranet, making it available to all teachers, the company claims. TPS falsely attributed authorship of the unauthorized electronic versions of the AAA copyrighted works to the teachers the district employed as scriveners to steal AAA's intellectual property."
The attorney for my district is quoted as saying, "We don't believe there's any validity to the claim.”
Teachers were not given any further information as to how the dispute was settled. However, the pacing guides were removed from the employee intranet for a few months before being put back up, so we assume the claim has been dismissed.
In searching for more information on how printed material can be used by a classroom teacher, I found the following source helpful: “Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians” This article can be found at the following link:
This is a wordle incorporating text from the article:
I found the Good Copy / Bad Copy video to be very fascinating. I think the Nigerian filmmaker summed up how copyright laws are to be followed succinctly:
“If you don’t have permission, you can’t use it.”
I learned that it is all about getting permission, not about money at all. I often wonder about showing movies at school. I have seen schools who host family movie nights. They rent a DVD, and project it in the gym for families to watch together. I am hesitant to participate; are they breaking copyright laws by showing the video in a large gathering like that, with over 100 people viewing? Most teachers reply it is OK because they are not charging for it. I question if they have permission.
Another quote I pondered from Good Copy / Bad Copy was “We don’t want to look at this from the negative angle…copyright is not about stopping people from using your work, but getting them to use your work legally and giving you money for what they have done with your work.”
I think that makes so much sense. I am not opposed to sharing lessons I have created with others, in fact I believe collaboration is the most crucial tool for teachers today. However, I do want to be recognized for the work I have done in creating these lessons. A site like TeachersPayTeachers.com allows for teachers to share lessons, be recognized as the creator, and make money for the intellectual work provided.
Response to MAC 1 Week 1 Cynthia Madanski's Blog:
 |
Amoeba from Shutterstock.com
|
I agree with you Cynthia, in that the law is acting a bit like an amoeba, which can be very unsettling as you navigate the use of information. I think that the TPS dispute is very interesting, and I wonder if you can find out what the resolution was, and who created that resolution. If we asked a lawyer about this particular dispute, I bet they would say that this happens often. They might say the process really is the nature of a new law becoming refined. I would ask my lawyer friend, but when she begins to speak in legalities I find her very intimidating. I avoid legal conversations when possible to maintain the happiness in her presence.
 |
Amoeba from shutter stock.com
|
I like the idea of using creative commons markings on your work, that way you are providing the answer to everyone before they have to ask about using your work. I must say, the process feels a little strange, the idea of adding that bit of protection to your work feels unsettling if you think of the work as property. Perhaps we should think of the creative commons license as good communication instead.
Thank you for sharing the Teachers pay Teachers link!
*-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**-**
Amanda Rhymer's blog: http://dailyapplez.blogspot.com/
MAC Wk1 reading: Copyright issues, parts 1 - 3: O Brother!
My mother is fond of saying: there’re no new stories…it’s all just the same story, retold.
 |
| Image from: |
I’m reminded of one of my favorite movies, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The movie is essentially a remake of Homer’s The Odyssey. Of course, the copyright on The Odyssey must surely be up by now and who would own that copyright anyway? A fellow teacher just told me that she uses “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” to teach The Odyssey. Same story. Who knew?
If it’s all just the same story, retold…then maybe it’s all just the same music, remixed? I still have my old mix tapes from the ‘80’s, in a box somewhere, and I have CD’s that my girls and I made over the years with music mixes (of our own purchased music) on them. Things are much easier now with digital media, our iPods are just one big mixed device. In one of the videos we watched, they blamed piracy for killing the record stores. I think that’s a stretch. Digital media has been a game changer for lots of industries and only those willing to change with the times are going to survive. I still buy whole albums on iTunes, most of the time. And I still buy real books to enjoy the total sensation of reading for pleasure. But I think that re-mixing may be here to stay, in fact, I really enjoy some of the new mixes that use some familiar 80's tunes!
Now I’m off to watch my legally purchased copy of “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Posted by Amanda Rhymer at 8:33 PM
Response to MAC 1 Week 1 Amanda Rhymer's Blog:
Hello Amanda,
Where would we be without remakes? How else can we transcend time with our stories without recent updates? Historically we have been infringing copyrights, had they existed, since we started telling stories, singing songs, and drawing pictures. I think that the real question is how do we balance giving credit with sharing ideas to build culture.
Remixing is such a powerful tool and technique for personal expression, and the memory is tangible every time you replay the songs. Being unable to sell or share your remix without providing credit and compensation is a little too confining. I think the world would be less without the creative expression.
We need to build on those stories to create relived culture. I certainly had no idea that SpongeBob square pants 
had Odyssey characteristics. You consistently demonstrate a wide variety of resources about your topics, which make your blog entries interesting. Thank you for sharing.
(SpongeBob animation from... http://photobucket.com/images/spongebob/)
had Odyssey characteristics. You consistently demonstrate a wide variety of resources about your topics, which make your blog entries interesting. Thank you for sharing. (SpongeBob animation from... http://photobucket.com/images/spongebob/)
No comments:
Post a Comment