2010 Offering of Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise

The online course, Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise (“CE”), will next be offered March 1 - 26, 2010. This course consists of 8 e-lessons and a private discussion blog.

This course has been developed by Lesley Ellen Harris, Copyrightlaws.com. Registration is at www.acteva.com/go/copyright.

Syllabus
1. Why Copyright Education
Organizational Considerations
2. Copyright Education Leadership
3. Evaluating Copyright Issues in Your Enterprise
4. Preparing a Copyright Education Plan
Implementing A Copyright Education Program
5. Developing Content for your Copyright Education
6. Format of Copyright Education
7. Copyright Program Development and Progression
8. Additional Copyright Education Resources

Virtual open house on Certificate of Copyright Management

A virtual open is scheduled for January 20 2010 at 1 pm for the 7 course program leading to a Certificate in Copyright Management. This is free but registration is necessary at http://www.sla.org/content/learn/certificates/copyright/index.cfm.

Lesley

FAQs about Online Courses by Copyrightlaws.com

1. Do I need a password to access the lessons?
No, the lessons will be e-mailed to the e-mail address you provide us. The advanced courses have discussion blogs open only to course participants.

2. Are the courses self-paced?
Yes, you may “do” the lesson, consult the recommended Web sites and blogs and take the self-marking quiz when it is convenient to you. If you are enrolled in an advanced course with a discussion blog, the listserv is available 7/24.

3. If I go on vacation or to a conference, how will I be able to keep up on the lessons?
You may access the lessons anywhere that you may access your email. However, if you are unable to do a lesson, you may catch-up upon your return to work. If you notify us prior to your travel, we can also send you the lessons in advance.

4. Will I obtain answers to my specific copyright and licensing questions?
While we cannot provide legal advice, you will find all of our courses very informative and packed with strategic information which you can apply in your day to day work. Our advanced courses provide a private blog during the duration of the course for posting questions and generating discussions. You can also post questions at anytime at www.copyrightanswers.blogspot.com and receive a speedy reply.

5. Why take our courses?
Our courses are short, practical, self-paced, inexpensive and there’s no need to travel or physically attend a classroom. You’ll have great reference materials and a Certificate of Completion either from the sponsoring organization (such as OCLC) or from Copyrightlaws.com.

6. Should the courses be taken in a particular order?
This would depend on your knowledge of copyright law and what are you are hoping to gain from one of our courses. Our primers are:
• Canadian Copyright Law
• US Copyright Online
• Practical International Copyright Law
Once you have completed a primer course (or have equivalent knowledge), we recommend taking our intermediate courses in the following order:
• Managing Copyright Issues
• Digital Content Management
• Digital Licensing Online
• Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise
• Copyright Law for Canadian Librarians
We currently have one assignment course:
• Developing a Copyright Policy
By completing the assignments in this course, you will end the course with a draft Copyright Compliance Policy.

These are only recommendations. If you would like to discuss what course to take, please email: contact@copyrightlaws.com. Also, if you have courses you recommend, please email us.

7. How may I obtain a syllabus for any of the courses?
Email contact@copyrightlaws.com and ask for the syllabus. The syllabi as well as scheduled classes are also posted at www.copyrightlawscom.blogspot.com.

8. I’d like to enroll in one of the courses however I do not see it scheduled.
Please contact us and let us know which course as there may be others interested in the same course. Also, if you have a group of 10 or more people, we can schedule a class for your group.


Registration for our courses is at: www.acteva.com/go/copyright.

2010 Scheduling of In-Person Courses

In 2009, I taught a number of professional development courses on copyright and licensing to a variety of audiences (from librarians to government workers to photographers) in a variety of cities, including Annapolis (MD), College Station (TX), Lansdowne (VA), Toronto (Ontario), Washington (DC), and Copenhagen (Denmark).

If you would like to schedule an in-person course, or online course specifically for your organization, email me at:
contact at copyrightlaws dot com.

Possible topics for courses, seminars and workshops are:
Copyright Compliance
Managing Copyright Issues
Licensing Electronic Resources
Digital Copyright Issues
Digital Content Management
Developing A Copyright Policy
Educating Others in your Organization about Copyright & Licensing Issues
Primers (for example on U.S., Canadian and international copyright law)
Or let me know what topics you would like covered in your seminar...

Look forward to hearing from you.

Lesley

2010 Offering of Managing Copyright Issues

The online course, Managing Copyright Issues (“MCI”), will next be offered January 18 to February 12, 2010. This course consists of 16 e-lessons and a private discussion blog.

This course has been developed by Lesley Ellen Harris, Copyrightlaws.com. Registration is at www.acteva.com/go/copyright.


Syllabus

1. Why manage your copyright issues?

General Management Issues:

2. Centralizing copyright
3. Understanding copyright principles
4. Copyright in the global context
5. Copyright law and digital media
6. Valuing copyright

Using Copyright-Protected Materials:

7. Permissions procedures
8. Copyright risk management

Licensing:

9. Negotiating permissions and licenses
10. Your licensing policy

Protecting Copyrights:

11. Auditing your copyright assets
12. Protecting copyright works

Advanced Management Issues:

13. Other legal issues
14. Developing your written copyright policy
15. Ongoing copyright education
16. Managing copyright checklist

2010 Offering of Copyright Law for Canadian Librarians

Copyright Law for Canadian Librarians (“CLCL”), an advanced online course with 6 e-lessons, a discussion blog, and specific case studies relevant to day to day copyright situations in Canadian libraries, will be offered from January 18 to February 12, 2010.

Course developed by Lesley Ellen Harris and offered through Copyrightlaws.com. Register at www.acteva.com/go/copyright.

Syllabus:

1. How Copyright Law Affects Librarians

2. A Librarian’s Primer on Canadian Copyright Law

3. Library Provisions in the Canadian Copyright Act

4. Digital Copyright Issues and Libraries

5. Permissions and License Agreements

6. Steps to Copyright Compliance

2010 Offering of Developing A Copyright Policy

Developing A Copyright Policy will next be offered from April 12 - May 7 2010. Register now at www.acteva.com/go/copyright.

If you need a Copyright Policy, this course is for you. Over a 4 week period, you will have 8 e-lessons guiding you through the process of writing a Copyright Policy. Join your colleagues and Lesley Ellen Harris in discussions in the course blog. Complete your assignments and end the course with a draft Copyright Policy in hand. Syllabus is below. Register now and make 2010 the year copyright compliance in your organization becomes a reality.

Syllabus
1. Why You Need A Copyright Policy
2. Copyright Basics
3. Your Copyright Policy Team
4. Sensitizing and Educating Others In Your Enterprise
5. Obtaining Copyright Permissions – The Big Picture
6. Obtaining Copyright Permissions – The Specifics
7. Practical Solutions
8. Preparing Your Policy Outline/Draft

You will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.

Comments from a 2009 participant:

A super course. I appreciated getting your prompt feedback after posting my assignments.

Lynn Hughes
Library Technician, Copyright
College of the Rockies Library
British Columbia, Canada

Test your copyright knowledge: Copyright Quiz 2.0

Copyright Quiz 2.0

Test your knowledge on international copyright principles.

True or False?

1. Copyright law is the same throughout the world. T F

2. The leading copyright convention is the Berne Convention. T F

3. All countries have the same copyright duration: life + 50 or fifty years after the author’s death. T F

4. If you have permission to reproduce an image in one country, you may not reproduce the image in a different country. T F

5. Once you have copyright protection in Canada or the U.S. you automatically have protection in most countries around the world. T F

6. There is an international copyright registry where anyone may file an application for worldwide copyright protection. T F

7. A license for the use of digital content must be subject to the laws of your own country to be valid. T F

8. The way that international copyright law works is that you apply the copyright law of your own country i.e., the law of the country where the work is being copied. T F

9. All countries protect the reputation of an author of a copyright-protected work in perpetuity in terms of the author being able to claim authorship and prevent modifications of his work that may be prejudicial to his honor or reputation. T F

10. Digital copyright issues are treated in a universal manner subject to a single copyright treaty, whereas analogue copyright issues are dealt with on a country-by-country basis. T F

Answers are below.

If you would like to discuss any of the answers, please post a comment below.

Lesley


This quiz was created May 5, 2009.

 Copyrightlaws.com 2009


Answers: 1F, 2T, 3F, 4T, 5T, 6F, 7F, 8T, 9F, 10F

Annapolis Talk April 20 2009

For those in DC and Maryland, please join me on an informal copyright presentation I am giving on April 20 2009 at 7 pm at Maryland Hall in Annapolis. No fee. The talk is geared towards the Annapolis Digital Photography Club.

Lesley

Test your copyright knowledge: Copyright Quiz 1.0

Copyright Quiz 1.0

The purpose of this quiz is to test your knowledge on general copyright principles. Answers are at the bottom of this posting.

True or False?

T F 1. Copyright law protects ideas.

T F 2. Copyright law protects all titles of books and movies.

T F 3. Content on blogs and websites are in the public domain.

T F 4. You need permission to summarize the ideas in a newspaper article.

T F 5. Copyright is automatic upon the creation and fixation of a work.

T F 6. Copyright law is part of a larger area of law called intellectual property.

T F 7. If there is no  symbol on a work, then it is not protected by copyright.

T F 8. Copyright registration is not mandatory for securing copyright in a work.

T F 9. All permissions to use a copyright-protected work must be in writing.

T F 10. When you purchase a painting, you own the physical painting however you do not own the copyright in the painting.


If you would like to discuss any of the answers, please post a comment below.

Lesley


This quiz was created March 31, 2009.

 Copyrightlaws.com 2009


Answers: 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F, 5T, 6T, 7F, 8T, 9F, 10T

Digital Content Management online course syllabus

Digital Content Management (“DCM”)
Advanced Course

Syllabus
1. Understanding digital content
Copyright Law
2. The interplay between copyright law and digital content
3. Specific digital copyright Issues
4. The relevancy of international copyright law
5. Technology and licensed content
Licensing Issues
6. What are digital rights or electronic rights?
7. How to license digital content
8. Learning to negotiate licenses
9. Licensing content: specific clauses
10. Licensing content: standard clauses
11. Developing a written licensing strategy policy
Legally Using Licensed Content
12. Monitoring legal and illegal uses of licensed digital content
13. What to do if you are accused of infringing copyright
14. How to avoid copyright infringements by your enterprise and end users
Advanced Management Issues
15. Organizing your digital content
16. Planning for the future of digital content

Course includes a discussion blog moderated by Lesley Ellen Harris, copyrightlaws.com.
Next offering: April 20 - May 22, 2009
Register at www.acteva.com/go/copyright

A Copyright Policy is an Excellent Educational Tool

Developing a Copyright Compliance Policy

A copyright policy can serve a variety of functions, from determining who owns works created during employment, to explaining your licenses, to establishing a procedure for clearing permissions in copyright-protected works. Generally speaking, a copyright policy is a summary of copyright management procedures for your organization. Depending on the contents of the policy, it can also be an educational tool and serve as reference material on copyright issues relevant to your organization. Another purpose of a copyright policy is to provide a single, consistent approach to copyright issues.

Although it may initially be read cover to cover, a copyright policy is more likely to be consulted on an as-needed basis, so a strong index and/or search tool is recommended to ensure its effectiveness. A policy should always be “live” and be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in copyright law, technology, organizational policies, and the way in which you use copyright-protected materials in your organization.

Write your policy using plain, straightforward language, not “legalese.” Keep in mind that this is a document for management, staff and librarians in your organization, not for your lawyers. If a lawyer prepares your policy, make sure those who will use it can understand it. If a non-lawyer prepares it, ask a lawyer to review it for accuracy.

Getting Started

Copyright policies exist in a variety of forms, styles and lengths, and writing one may seem like a daunting task. Where do you begin? First, read copyright policies from other organizations. Next, prepare an outline of the important issues. Gather all those in your organization who deal with copyright issues, whether it’s permissions, protection, digital licenses or other matters, and obtain their input. Then, pick a section and start writing. Be patient—copyright policies are not created overnight, and writing one may take many hours of hard (and perhaps frustrating) work.

Before you begin writing your policy, think of the different headings that may be relevant to your organization. Headings for a policy may include the following:
• Purpose of this policy
• A primer on U.S. copyright law and international copyright law
• Permissions procedure
• Protecting copyright-protected works created in your enterprise
• Questions and answers about copyright (see www.copyrightanswers.blogspot.com)
• Updating your policy: Timing and procedure
• Reference section
• Internal contacts for copyright matters

Lesley

Selecting a Copyright Course

So many courses to choose from! How does one decide? Consider your level of copyright knowledge, your available time, your budget, scheduling, whether you prefer to receive e-tutorials, or prefer online discussions, and whether you will engage in assigned work.

Information professionals may consider the 7 course program offered by the Special Library Association and Copyrightlaws.com. Each course is 3 weeks long, with 3 Webex live sessions and a final test. Participants receive IACET/CEU credits. Info at: www.clickuniversity.com.

There are 3 other types of courses offered by Copyrightlaws.com. Participants receive a Certificate of Completion upon completing each course.

1. E-mail tutorial courses. These are primer courses on Canadian Copyright Law ($129, 16 e-lessons), U.S. Copyright ($129, 16 e-lessons), and Practical International Copyright Law ($99, 6 e-lessons). These courses consist of e-mail lessons with a text lecture, further resources, and a self-marking quiz. These courses involve the least time and participation and provide a great basis for other courses. Schedule to spend at least 30 minutes per lesson.

2. Intermediate courses include e-mail lessons with a text lecture, further resources, a self-marking quiz and/or case studies to discuss, and a blog discussion. Voluntary discussion provides you with an opportunity to meet colleagues, and ask your specific questions. These courses are: Managing Copyright Issues ($149, 16 e-lessons); Digital Content Management ($149, 16 e-lessons); Digital Licensing Online ($149, 27 e-lessons); and Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyrignt in your Enterprise $(149, 8 e-lessons). Schedule to spend at least 30 minutes per lesson, and 15 minutes per lesson on the discussion blog. It is highly recommended that you have some knowledge of copyright before taking our advanced courses, either by completing one of our primer courses, or through other courses and experience.

3. Assignment courses include e-mail lessons with a text lecture, further resources, a blog discussion, and assignments in each lesson. This course is: Developing a Copyright Policy ($495, 8 e-lessons.) Schedule to spend at least 30 minutes per lesson, 15 minutes per lesson on the discussion blog, and 15-30 minutes completing each lesson assignment. Assignments are posted on the blog for commentary by the instructor/copyright lawyer, Lesley Ellen Harris. If you complete all assignments, you will have a draft Copyright Policy at the completion of this course. It is highly recommended that you have a solid understanding of copyright prior to registering for this course, and that you have taken a course/or the equivalent, of a primer course on copyright and Managing Copyright Issues course.

4. A new course, Copyright Law for Canadian Librarians, is currently being developed and will offered in 2009. The tentative syllabus is in the right column in this blog. It will consist of e-lessons, case studies to discuss, and a moderated discussion blog.

Please post any of your questions below or email me (seminars at copyrightlaws . com)

Lesley

Syllabus for Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise

Copyright Education: Demystifying Copyright in your Enterprise (“CE”)
Advanced Course

Syllabus


1. Why Copyright Education

Organizational Considerations

2. Copyright Education Leadership

3. Evaluating Copyright Issues in Your Enterprise

4. Preparing a Copyright Education Plan

Implementing A Copyright Education Program

5. Developing Content for your Copyright Education

6. Format of Copyright Education

7. Copyright Program Development and Progression

8. Additional Copyright Education Resources

A discussion blog will be led by Lesley Ellen Harris. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Syllabus for Digital Licensing Online Course

Digital Licensing Online (“DLO”)
Advanced Course

Syllabus

1. When to license
2. “Industry standards” in licenses
3. Three steps to a license arrangement
4. Do you need a licensing policy?
5. Global issues
6. Key concepts in licensing agreements
7. Legal concepts in licensing agreements
8. Key digital licensing clauses, Part I (preamble, parties, definitions, content covered by the agreement)
9. Key digital licensing clauses, Part II (rights granted)
10. Key digital licensing clauses, Part III (sub-licenses, ILL, fair use/dealing, e-rights)
11. Key digital licensing clauses, Part IV (authorized uses, usage restrictions)
12. Key digital licensing clauses, Part V (license fee, pricing models)
13. Key digital licensing clauses, Part VI (licensor obligations, delivery and continuing access to content, support and documentation)
14. Key digital licensing clauses, Part VII (licensee obligations, monitoring use, credits)
15. Key digital licensing clauses, Part VIII (territory, authorized users, authorized site, copyright ownership, term of agreement)
16. Key digital licensing clauses, Part IX (renewal, termination, perpetual access, disclaimers, warranties, indemnity and limitation of liability)
17. Boilerplate clauses, Part I (ADR, amendments, binding effect, confidential information, currency)
18. Boilerplate clauses, Part II (entire agreement, force majeure, governing law)
19. Boilerplate clauses, Part III (independent parties, interpretation, notice, remedies, severability)
20. Boilerplate clauses, Part IV (signature, survival, transferability, waiver)
21. What does negotiation mean?
22. Before you begin negotiations
23. During the negotiations
24. Other important negotiation issues
25. What kind of license do you need?
26. Your licenses
27. Final tips

Discussions will be via a blog, moderated by Lesley Ellen Harris. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.