Copyright and Fair Use SR

1. (Photoshop Available on Server) I thought that the law about this example are a little ridiculous. While people are allowed to use the program, more than one person cannot use it at a time?? That is hardly practical for teaching, when it is quite probable that many if not ALL the students in a class would need to be logged onto the program at the same time to receive instructions or work on a project.

2. (Schools Buy Max Amount Possible of Software Before Copying) This guideline is one that seems to be solely based on the moral integrity of the "Powers-That-Be" in a given school. While one school without a lot of money might buy as many copies as they can before copying, perhaps a school with a higher budget might spend funds elsewhere and then take advantage of the loophole, copying nearly all of the needed software? If I were an administrator, I'd want the rule to be a little more defined to prevent moral ambiguity.

3. (Marine Life Picture OK to Use) I think that this is one of the parts of the law that is most beneficial. Nothing gets the point across like a picture, and nothing dresses up a student poster like some quality jpegs. Hats off to this part of the rules. But be prepared to put them back on.

4. (MP3.com) I feel that there are so many resources out there now for people who want to download pretty much ANYTHING that it is very difficult to tell which sites are legit and which ones are legal, even for educated adults. I feel that there should be some kind of standard for these sites and perhaps a comprehensive list of legal sites to use presented to all schools for reference. Maybe there is. If so, good job!

5. ("Psycho" Won't Copy) This entry pretty much just made me laugh because it says we as teachers should snap up all the laser discs we can. I don't think I would know one if someone lobbed one at my head. But seriously? I think that manufacturers have that right to prevent copying. But that they should make that same material available to teachers through a website or something for educational purposes if they insist on preventative technology.

6. (Recycled Holocaust Interview) As a teacher myself, I would not allow this in my classroom as more than just an aid to a bigger part of the lesson, because using the interview that other kids worked hard to produce shouldn't be used as though the work was done by myself or my own students. I just don't feel that this is ethical in the moral sense, even if it is legal.

7. (No Compilations) I think that it is a bit ridiculous to allow such willy-nilly copyright limitations on teachers, but then not allow material to be used in shorter, more manageable clips such as in a compilation. This kind of blows my mind and seems like the companies are saying, "Well, if you can copy our stuff, than you should have to suffer through owning ALL of it, not just the part you want!!"

8. (Yearbook Tunes) I feel personally that if the music that is being played in the background of the yearbook slideshow was originally purchased properly (i.e. from a legal download site, on a CD) than it should be allowed to be played no matter what. That is like saying that if I play my CDs in the parking lot of the school I have to keep my windows up so some law-abiding student doesn't walk by, hear my music, and break a copyright law for hearing music they didn't buy.