UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 33, Page 6
May 25, 1995
TechTalk
To copy or not to copy

     It's so easy. It's so tempting. But, be careful. The technology
available on campus makes it a snap to copy any and everything.
However, copyright law and fair use rules apply to all forms of
information in all media.
     "In a university environment, we each have a responsibility to be
aware of the copyright law and to be sure we comply with that law,"
Michele Campbell, office of the vice provost for research, said.
     In general, one should always obtain written permission to use
another's work and check to be certain that use of software or
information conforms to license agreements and copyright rules. (See
accompanying article.)


     YOUR DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING A BROCHURE, AND YOU FIND THE IDEAL
PICTURE IN A BOOK OF PHOTOGRAPHS ABOUT DELAWARE. ALTHOUGH YOU COULD
SCAN ONE OF THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS-TURNING IT INTO A COMPUTER FILE YOU
COULD INCLUDE IN YOUR BROCHURE-TO DO SO PROBABLY VIOLATES THE
COPYRIGHT.
     The same rules apply for electronic media. "When we created the
World Wide Web page for one unit, we wanted to use some of the artwork
its printed brochure," Ann Amsler, user services, said. "However, the
University had only purchased limited rights to use the artwork."
     "In that case," Don Shenkle, publications office, said, "we
negotiated with the artist and were able to purchase the rights to
allow use of the artwork on that Web page."


     YOU ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT AND FIND INFORMATION OR IMAGES THAT
COULD BE USEFUL TO YOU AT ANOTHER SITE ON THE INTERNET. ELECTRONIC
"PUBLICATION" OF IMAGES, SOFTWARE, SOUNDS OR TEXT DOES NOT MEAN THAT
THAT MATERIAL HAS ENTERED THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
     For example, a residence life employee at another university
found an Internet site with lots of cartoon characters. He downloaded
the files and printed the cartoons on name badges for new students as
an attractive way of helping students identify who would be living in
which residence halls. Unfortunately, one student's father was an
attorney for the company owning the rights to some of the characters.


     YOUR DEPARTMENT IS LOW ON FUNDS; IT'S THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR;
IT'S SO TEMPTING TO PURCHASE ONE LICENSED COPY OF A SOFTWARE PACKAGE
AND MAKE COPIES FOR ALL YOUR STAFF. DON'T DO IT.
     "People forget that when they 'purchase' software, they are
usually purchasing a license to use that software," Leila Lyons, user
services, said. "The vendor or author still owns the copyright to the
software."
     "It is an individual's responsibility to make sure the software
he or she installs on a desktop system is a legal copy," Carol
Anderer, user services, said. Many vendors do sell special, multi-user
or network licenses that allow the use of multiple copies of the
software in a department.
     Purchasing such a multi-user license, if available, she added, is
usually less expensive than purchasing individual licenses for each
employee.
     The head of one campus program asked two user services
consultants to install one copy of certain software on his machine, as
well as his laptop, his secretary's machine and his home computer.
     Some vendors sell licenses that allow one person to install
copies on all the machines he or she uses, Anderer said. "But, they
are the exception. Check the license agreement that comes with the
software to see if multiple copies are allowed to be made for
individual use or other people's use."


     YOU LEARN THAT THERE IS A SHOW BEING BROADCAST ON PBS-TV THAT YOU
WANT ONE OF YOUR CLASSES TO SEE. CAN YOU TAPE THE SHOW AND BRING IT
IN? "YOU MAY BE ABLE TO, BUT YOU NEED TO CHECK FIRST," TERI WAYNE,
UNIVERSITY MEDIA SERVICES, SAID. "THE RULES VARY FROM NETWORK TO
NETWORK, AND MAY EVEN BE DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT EPISODES OF
INDIVIDUAL SHOWS," SHE ADDED.
     Wayne said that there is similar variation in the license
agreements for video that comes to campus via satellite downlink.
"Some agreements require an extra fee if we make a copy of the
downlink; some require a fee if we make multiple copies or want to re-
broadcast the material on UDTV, the campus cable system," she
explained.
     As with other media, the rule is simple: "You have to get
permission or we cannot put it on UDTV," Wayne said.
     If you have general questions about how copyright law and fair
use rules apply in a University setting, contact Campbell at 831-2136
or via e-mail to Michelle.Campbell@mvs.udel.edu.
     If you have questions about using material in a University
publication-in paper or electronic format- contact Gail Armstrong,
publications, telephone 831-2144, or via e-mail to
Gail.Armstrong@mvs.udel.edu.
     If you have questions about using video or about broadcasting
material on UDTV, contact Teri Wayne, University media services, 831-
2450, or via e-mail to twayne@strauss.udel.edu.
                                                       -Richard Gordon