Face-to-Face Teaching
Under the
Copyright Act, instructors are permitted to perform or display copyrighted
materials during a face-to-face classroom activity. This exception does not
permit instructors to distribute or copy copyrighted materials, only to perform
or display. In addition, the Agreement on Guidelines for Classroom Copying in
Not for Profit Educational Institutions with respect to Books and Periodicals (a
copy of which may be found beginning on page 7 of
Circular 21, "Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians"
published by the United States Copyright Office permits limited copying without
permission for use in the classroom.
Distance Learning and the TEACH Act
In 2002, Congress passed the
Teaching, Education, And Copyright Harmonization Act (“TEACH Act”). The
TEACH Act expanded higher education’s ability to perform and display copyrighted
works in digital online instruction. As an amendment to copyright law, the TEACH
Act allows educators to transmit copyrighted works without permission from the
copyright holder, provided certain conditions are met. The TEACH Act creates a
safe harbor for institutions. Individual instructors who commit copyright
infringement remain liable under the TEACH Act. Click
here for more
information on the TEACH Act.
TEACH Act FAQs
Visit North Carolina State University’s
TEACH Act Toolkit’s Frequently Asked Questions, written by Peggy E. Hoon, NC
State 2002:
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