HIT: Copyright Issues - Using Pictures from the Internet

[Michelle Walker <wadelle2@CS.COM>]

A huge thanks to all who replied to my question about student use of images from 
the internet.  The Fair Use sources recommended below seem to concur that students 
may use pictures from the internet if 1) the fully cite the source and 2) they use 
no more than 5 works from one author and less than 10% or 15 works from one 
collection.  I've included my original message below followed by the responses I 
received.

Original Message:
I am finding more and more students are using pictures from the internet to include 
in PowerPoint presentations, on report covers, in assignments, etc.  What are the 
copyright laws regarding pictures from the internet?  Is it okay to use them if you 
give the website/source credit?   I've been steering kids to free clip art sites as 
much as possible, but still find students using online pictures a great deal. I've 
searched the archives and couldn't find much there. I'd appreciate any of your 
insights, experiences, etc. with this issue.   Thanks!

   Michelle Walker, Librarian
   Hamilton Union High School
   Hamilton City, CA
   (530) 826-3261
   mwalker@glenn-co.k12.ca.us
   www.glenn-co.k12.ca.us/ham-hs/library.html

________________________

   Once again the answer is .... it depends. It depends
   on the source and if that source allows use in educational
   materials. For example, look at the terms and conditions for
   the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY)
   http://www.metmuseum.org/copyright.htm>.  You'll find them
   quite nice for schools and probably at odds with some of the
   answers that may say "never".

   At first you may not have much success, but if you ask that a
   url to the Permissions or Copyright section of a website be
   included in all reports, you will be able to show that the
   pictures are used properly.
   Dan Robinson
   HW Wilson Company

___________________

   Fair use policy states that students and teachers may use excerpts in
   "private" or educational projects from other works (including images) if
   they give credit (of course) and say where those excerpts came from.  A
   good web site for the "rules" of fair use is:
   http://www.nmjc.cc.nm.us/copyrightbay/coprbay.htm
   Monica McQueen
____________________

   The multimedia fair use guidelines deal with this issue in great detail,
   and they are written in something that resembles English. Read them
   yourself at
   http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/intellectualproperty/ccmcguid.htm.
   Carol Simpson, Ed.D.
______________________

   As long as credit is given it is okay!
______________________

   Because of the actions of a colleague, I have done a fair
   amount of searching for copyright guidelines.  The site I'm giving you
   is one of the best I've found so far.

   http://www.utsystem.edu/OGC/IntellectualProperty/faculty.htm

   Whenever possible, the best route for your students to take is to
   request permission from the website owner/administrator to use the
   picture in a student production just as an author seeks permission to
   use copyrighted materials.  In my experience, I've sometimes had to pay
   a small fee for the use of the materials and sometimes I simply get
   permission to use them without any further payment.  If the student has
   the permission in writing, s/he is protected and also learns that
   intellectual property rights are as important as tangible property
   rights.
   Aleene
________________

Unless they have the permission of the website to use it, they are violating 
copyright laws. Just citing it isn't totally correct.  If you have a time-line 
issue, they saw it last night and want to use it today, then that's another thing.  
What with e-mail access on most webpages, it's pretty instantaneous to get 
permission.
   Jean Gustafson

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