Copyright Guidelines - Omaha Public Schools

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

A teacher may make enough copies of a single graphic/picture from a book, an internet site, or other source for each of the students in the class when its use supports the current lesson

A teacher may make a copy of a book jacket for display to promote books owned by the library

Teachers may use clip art from sources that are owned individually or by the district, or downloaded from free clip art Internet web sites

UNACCEPTABLE

It is not permissable for cartoon characters to be copied or altered in any way without permission from the copyright holder. If it looks like Tigger, it is Tigger.

It is not permissable to download copies of book jackets from the internet for display on a school web site or bulletin board without permission from the copyright holder.

It is not permissible to copy or alter in any way graphics/pictures from coloring books, greeting cards, etc. without permission from the copyright holder.

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

Students and teachers may download images for classroom projects or lessons, using amounts specified in the Fair Use Guidelines.

Audio and video clips may be downloaded by students and teachers for use in multimedia projects. (10% or 30 seconds of a music composition or 10% or 3 minutes of a video)

A teacher may post links on school or individual web sites to information on the internet

A teacher may re-post material from the Internet on a school web site IF the materials are only accessible to the students for which they are intended, the material supports the current curriculum and the amounts used qualifies under the Fair Use guidelines.

UNACCEPTABLE

It is not permissible to download copies of book jackets for display on a school web site or bulletin boards without permission from the copyright holder.

It is not permissible to re-post information from the Internet without permission of the web site creator.

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

A multimedia project directly connected to the current curriculum may contain a video/movie/television clip of up to 10% or 3 minutes of an individual program

A multimeda project directly connected to the current curriculum may contain a music clip (lyrics or music video) of up to 10% or 30 seconds from a single work.

A multimedia project directly connected to the current curriculum may contain up to 5 images of a single artist and no more than 10% or 15 images from a collective work.

Two copies can be made of a multimedia project - each person involved in creating the project may also have their own copy. If A teacher-created project using copyrighted materials may be retained for two years and displayed at workshops or conferences. A student-created project may be retained by the student indefinitely.

UNACCEPTABLE

A student project may not be posted on a web site or otherwise put on public display, unless permission is obtained from the student and parent and owner of any copyrighted material.

Audio or video in one format may not be copied onto another format without permision from the copyright holder.. This would include, but not be limited to, copying a video to DVD, taping or filming a book reading, transferring content from a phonograph record to an audiotape or CD-ROM and editing or altering content.

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

A teacher may make an emergency copy of a piece of sheet music if a purchased copy will not be available in time for a performance. The emergency copy must be replaced by a purchased copy.

A student may use music as part of a classroom project from CDs, tapes, or downloads, as long as the amount used is 30 seconds or no than 10% of the original piece (Fair Use Guidelines)

UNACCEPTABLE

It is not permissible to copy printed music to avoid purchasing legal copies

It is not permissible make copies of "consumables" (workbook, test, worksheet, etc.)

Music may not be downloaded, recorded, included in a power-point, or played on a "boom box" or PA system as background during any activity that is not part of a classroom lesson. (examples would include but not be limited to: awards programs, banquets, meetings, or background music in the classroom.)

It is not permissible to re-record music clips from several sources onto one CD or tape to create a collection nor is it permissible to change the format without permission from the copyright holder. (i.e. transfer content from audiotape to CD-ROM, etc.)

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

A classroom teacher may make one copy per student of materials to be used in teaching a lesson.

Amounts copied should comply with Fair Use Guidelines: 1 poem or except from a poem (250 words or less); an except from a book or other print materials (10% or 1000 words, which ever is less); or 2 pages or 10% of a picture book, which ever is less.

Only the classroom teacher will select the materials to be copied.

UNACCEPTABLE

It is not permissable to make copies of consumable materials: workbooks, work sheets, test booklets, etc. without permission from the copyright holder.

It is not permissable to make extra copies of materials to be used at a later date without permssion from the copyright holder.

A supervisor, principal, or other administrator may not direct a classroom teacher to make copies or supply those copies for use in the classroom without permssion from the copyright holder.

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

A software program may be installed on as many computers as is allowed in the licensing agreement.

In general, only district purchased software may be installed on district computers.

UNACCEPTABLE

It is not permissible to allow licensed software to be made available on a website.

It is now permissible to install single-used software in a computer laboratory where it may be accessed by more than one user at a time.

Always cite the source when using any copyrighted material.

ACCEPTABLE

A teacher may show an "approved" video/dvd in the classroom that is directly connected to the current lesson being taught. An "approved" video/DVD is defined by the Omaha Public Schools as one that is available from an Omaha Public School Media Center.

A teacher may show all or part of a legally acquired "non-approved" video/DVD by submitting the "REQUEST TO USE NON-APPROVED VIDEOCASSETTES, FILMS, OR OTHER MEDIA IN THE CLASSROOM" form for approval. These showings must also be directly linked to the current curriculum.

A video/DVD of a television program may be obtained by recording it, but only if the program is being broadcast by a channel that is receivable by a regular television antenna. If the channel is also being aired via cable, the tape may be made from the cable channel. There are limitations as to the number of times a recorded program may be shown and how long the tape may be retained outlined in the Fair Use Guidelines.

UNACCEPTABLE

It is not permissible to show a video/DVD for as a reward or for entertainment purposes in the classroom.

It is not permissible to record and show programs from cable television channels without permission from the copyright holder. These permissions will outline the number of times a recorded program may be shown and how long the tape may be retained.

Copyright Links

FORM: Copyright Fair Use Check List. On the Copyright Management Center, Indiana University web site @ http://www.copyright.iupui.edu/checklist.pdf

FORM: Request to Use Non-Approved Videocassettes, Films or Other Media in the Classroom. Omaha Public School Department of Curriculum and Learning

REFERENCE: Circular 21 - Guidelines for the U.S. Copyright office @ http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ21.pdf

REFERENCE: Copyrighted & Fair Use Guidelines from Stanford University @ http://fairuse.stanford.edu/

REFERENCE: Copyright guidelines for music from the National Association for Music Education (MENC)@http://www.menc.org/copyright/