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Fair Use Issues:
2. What Do We Need To Do?

The attendees were also invited to add to their notes More Commentary about Fair Use Issues, which is reported separately from the outline of this page. The lists below focus only on responses to the second half of the Danger in the Construction Zone instructions.

2. To achieve resolution or greater understanding of Fair Use Issues,
   WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN THE SPACE OF ONE YEAR?

   Summary:

   • We need to create a training program, involving MCCD Legal Services, to educate employees regarding what is allowed and not allowed in the fair use context.
   • We need to publish a web site (from, or involving, MCCD Legal Services) that clearly explains fair use policies.
   • We need to create a centralized system (at either the districtwide or campus level) for obtaining copyright permissions and/or functioning as a library or "clearinghouse" of copyrighted material the colleges are already allowed to use.
   • We need to appoint a centralized body (at either the districtwide or campus level) to check for copyright compliance on the colleges' web sites.
   • We need to involve the colleges in the process of copyright legislation (toward "loosening" the law for classroom purposes).
   • We as web developers and instructors need to adapt habits for using copyrighted material legally, such as providing links to material on others' web sites (instead of copying the material) and providing bibliographic citations wherever appropriate.

   Transcriptions of Conference Notes:

   • [Multiple] Need education/training/seminars for faculty/personnel on copyright laws / fair use / what you can or cannot copy.
   • [Multiple] Give credit where credit is due / cite source when you use it in your web site / bibliography page
   • [Multiple] Enforce compliance throughout organization / make people aware of possible copyright violations.
   • [Multiple] Get permission from organization/individual owner of material.
   • [Multiple] State what your copyright process is on your web site.
   • Develop a central web site for what permissions we have, how to get new ones, etc.
   • Have a person at college or District level to gather necessary copyright licenses. Set up blanket licensing agreement for colleges to access for commercial databases of images, content, audio, etc. Have policy where, if instructors go outside of databases, that librarian or copyright person at college will apply for appropriate licenses. Have password protected access to these databases. Educators are afraid that they will be denied, so they may not ask for permission. Have training to get around this fear.
   • Copyright liaison at each campus?
   • Faculty and Legal Dept. committee definition of fair use for classrooms (web sites) in the District.
   • We need to actively participate in the legislative process to push for freer academic use of copyrighted materials. Lobby to change the laws.
   • Possible marketing link to organization. Way to handle information overload/hits to server of organization. Legal advice at campus level as well at District Office.
   • Hire research/legal tech to assist creative/faculty personnel before development.
   • Have a central contact point/person and clearing house for faculty. Having a web site which simply lays out what is "fair use."
   • Need to do: figure out how to stay within laws. Decrease prices to reduce theft.
   • College can meet with legislators to revise copyright law and devise new categories of fair use and e-based means of rapidly securing permissions or buying rights.
   • The solution is education about copyright and trademark laws and centralized management of web sites.
   • Put the legal department at district to work to define what will be permissible for instructors to use.
   • Teach students to cite web sites as sources for some of their work. Loosen copyright laws to allow students the use of printed (web based) materials.
   • Use links as much as possible.
   • Create a control where if you don't want it for public use then you can only view, if copied make them public. Would have to pay. Public info vs. private info.
   • Use shareware pages.
   • See Legal Department lawyer.

Return to:
Introduction to Fair Use Issues
Danger in the Construction Zone Contents
WebDev 2000 Contents