Fwd: Please post on LM-NET

[upstate ny <seggert@IX.NETCOM.COM>]

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From: JerryTaylr@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 3 Dec 1995 12:05:29 -0500
Message-ID: <951203120528_42760270@emout04.mail.aol.com>
To: seggert@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Please post on LM-NET
Status: RO

     I have a couple of questions regarding copyrights, and I'm hoping
that
there are a few "experts" out there who can help me out.  Recently our
school
hired a new person to operate our photocopy machine. (Teachers don't do
their
own copying... we're too dumb... we always "break the machine.") This
new
person was give a copy of our school district's "interpretations" (and
that
may be the most important word here) of the U.S. Copyright Regulations
(or
whatever they're called).
     I've always said that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,"
and I
think the "power" (?) has gone to her head.  She has now started
refusing to
copy *anything* that has a copyright symbol on it.  (That includes
"copy
masters" that were designed for that purpose!)  We've tried discussing
the
intent of the "Fair Use Guidelines" to no avail.  (Lest you say, "Go
tell the
principal," he's holding off on any confrontation until we can get get
"the
facts.")
     My particular question centers around the legal/moral/ethical
ramifications of copying a newspaper article for use in a workshop I
taught.
 (I say "taught" because the workshop is now *over* and I did NOT get
to hand
out the article!)  The workshop was an introductory world-wide web
(NetScape)
training for about 20 teachers.  I knew that several of the
participants who
had signed up were art teachers.  As luck would have it, right before
the
workshop was scheduled, our local newspaper ran a quarter-page article
about
art sites on the web.  (The article was *not* from a "syndicated"
author, or
anything like that... it was written by a local reporter.)  "How
timely," I
thought!  I couldn't wait to make a copy for each art teacher in the
workshop.
     WRONG!  I got it back from the "copy lady" and was told that it
was
"illegal" for her to copy the article. I tried showing her where in the
Fair
Use Guidelines I thought that my copy-job was "legal," but to no avail!
 The
course came and went, and the art teachers all left without a copy of
the
article!   ;-(
     Have any of you been through the same sort of situation?  Does
anyone
REALLY "know" what the "rules" are?  Or does everyone have his/her own
interpretation??  Is there anywhere I can go on the 'Net to get the
"real
scoop"?  Any enlightenment would be appreciated.

(***** NOTE: Since I'm not a member of this listserv, I've asked a
colleague
to post this message *for* me. Therefore, please send all your comments
to my
*private* e-mail address rather than to this listserv. Thanks.*****)

Jerry Taylor, Educational Technology Coordinator
Arcadia Middle School, Greece, NY
-----> E-mail address: JerryTaylr@aol.com