Obeying Copyright Laws

[ChildOfTheLight]

Hi

A quick question about copyright.

We’re suposed to obey the laws and all, right? Well, the copyright laws just changed at my university (not sure if this is a nationwide thing), and now the papers my teachers hand out (examples copied from textbooks) are illegal! Even only a couple of paragraphs I think.

Call me crazy, but I happen to think we should be able to use fair dealing for legit, honest copying when it is used for educational purposes. Apparently, english proffesors now have to use english journals for their handouts, but my math teachers say even they can’t understand the math journals that they are supposed to use as handouts. How are the students supposed to learn?

I feel bad that my teachers feel like they have to break the law or write out every 4 page table and example by hand on the board (it’s legal when written, but not when photocopied?), but I don’t want to use illegal materials.

My math teacher said she’ll try to follow the new rules, but there will be times when it is unreasonable to do so (spending 25 minutes copying something from the blackboard the was legal to photocopy last week).

Personally, I’d follow the laws. Since she seems to feel obligated though, and she’d like to follow them, I’ve decided that speaking with her would serve little purpose.

Am I still allowed to use what she gives me, or should I drop the course (can’t do it now without major financial loss)?
I think this law takes away reasonable fair use priviledges in Canada, and I think she’ll only copy when necessairy.

It’s time’s like these when I wish we’d just pay publishers and writers of books and music out of new taxes, and make unprofited copying permissable to do away with all these complicatedd rules that can’t keep up with the times.

Thanks,

CotL

 

[achmafooma]

I am not a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure you haven’t done anything wrong…at least not by U.S. law. Canada’s laws might be different.

In the U.S., ‘fair use’ allows broad exceptions for educational use. I don’t think there’s a specific length limit.

Also (again, in the U.S.), it is the one who copies that violates the law…not the one who receives. All of those file sharing lawsuits, for example, targeted people who made music available, not those who just downloaded it… although most file sharing programs were doing both, whether the user knew/understood that or not.

As such, even if the copies were illegally made and distributed, you haven’t broken the law by receiving them, the teacher broke the law by making them…at least in the U.S.

God bless you!

 

[TimothyH]

It’s time’s like these when I wish we’d just pay publishers and writers of books and music out of new taxes, and make unprofited copying permissable to do away with all these complicatedd rules that can’t keep up with the times.

I agree with you.

We should immediately institute a 50% tax on all public and private college tuition, a 75% tax on college room and board, a 100% tax on iTunes purchases and a 3000% tax on alcoholic beverages and fast food purchased within ten miles of a college campus by anyone under 35 years of age. We should redirect that money to corporate publishing houses. They can then print up one copy of each book and all the people at “Unprofited” colleges like Harvard, Yale and Princeton can just copy it. Since you mentioned music, I’m sure some of that money will have to go to Sony, Warner, sloop diggidy dog and Michael Jackson’s estate.

I’m with you… to hell with all of those old fashioned ideas about intellectual property. I always wanted to be an author anyway.

-Tim-

 

[1ke]

I am not aware of any “new” copyright laws that have gone into effect in the US. Perhaps this is a new **policy **at your university.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi

A quick question about copyright.

We’re suposed to obey the laws and all, right? Well, the copyright laws just changed at my university (not sure if this is a nationwide thing), and now the papers my teachers hand out (examples copied from textbooks) are illegal! Even only a couple of paragraphs I think.

CotL

don’t know what country you are in but this has been illegal for years, at least since I was in grad school lo these many moons ago

 

[Catholic]

You should definitely be commended for your concerns here. I encountered similar situations when I was a student, but it is hard for me to assess yours without more information. Some photocopying is legal under the fair use doctrine, depending on things like the amount and nature of the use.

If in fact the copying is illegal, you would certainly have a right to confront the instructor about it. This may be awkward, but you could do it anonymously. If she still refuses to comply with the law, you would also have a right to report her to her supervisor, such as the department chair, in a charitable way. You might even withhold her name and simply report that one of the professors is requiring students to partake of illegal material to an extent that is morally uncomfortable.

If all this is too awkward and you still feel uncomfortable using the material, there is also the unfortunate option of buying, say, used versions of the books the items come from.

Can you give us some more details?

 

[ChildOfTheLight]

To all those of you wondering which country these laws apply to, it is Canada.

I’m sorry if some think I have not provided enough information, but I happen to think I have provided quite enough. I have told you most of what I know, Im in the dark about the new laws too which is why I don't think I could report her. I wouldnt know what documents were illegal, so I don`t know for sure if any are.

As a previous poster said, I am not responsible for her actions, and as she has to get permission from the librarian to copy every she does at school, so it`s their duty to stop her there if no permission is sought. And, yes, this was definitly legal in my school last week.

We are not bound to follow unfair rules, correct? How is a rule that discriminates against the math professors at my school fair?

At any rate, I don`t think it is for me to take action. This seems like a grey area to me. Is the stuff she is copying even really copyrightable? since it is mostly worked out calculations.