Social networks allow us to create and freely exchange information. But with the free exchange of information comes the responsibility of how we use and share it, and how we give credit to the author of that information. Check out this video, “A Fair(y) Use Tale” and learn some history of copyright.
In the library and classroom, we are often faced with copyright challenges of when it is acceptable to copy something and how much of an item (Fair Use) we can copy. Our students, as part of the always plugged-in culture, "cut and paste" information for posters, projects, presentations, as well as research projects. How do we teach them the ethical use of information. How do we define the ethical use of information in this easily accessible and constantly changing information-rich landscape?
In the networked world of file sharing, downloading, and RSS, we must acknowledge and teach the ethics of information gathering and sharing. Creative Commons is a copyright license that allows us to choose to share our intellectual property. This course is designed under a Creative Commons license and is an example of how one can take a piece of information or a product and re-work it to make it fit your needs. By acknowledging the original authors, they have given permission for us to share.
We covered Open Source software and the implications of availability and free use. But there is more to consider in the realm of software authorship, ownership, and use. We are addressing the free exchange of information, software source code, and collaboration in software development.
Discovery Resources:
There are several discovery resources addressing copyright issues, the freedom of information, and freedom to create, use, mash up, and build upon the work of others. This is rather a broad category, but one of high significance as we look at the Read/Write web, creating and collaboration of content, and the use of freely available softwar applications. You may want to expand your reading on these areas of information creation and use by starting with some of these resources.
- Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials
- Fair Use for Teachers
- Larry Lessig: How creativity is being strangled by the law
- Free software and open source: The freedom debate and its consequences
- Copyright for Teachers and School Librarians
- Copyright Law of the United States
- Online copyright comic book developed by students at Duke University Law School
- Creative Commons website
- “Wanna Work Together?” YouTube video about Creative Commons
Discover Exercise:
- Write your blog reflection on copyright issues and how we can teach this foundation of Information Literacy.
- What are ways we can teach the ethical use of information to our students?
