Week 4 - Copyright Law, Plagiarism, & Ethical Issues

Copyright law is protects authors and their original works from being copied or used without permission. This protection will cover literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and other intellectual works. Plagiarism is when you present something as your own original work when it is not. These are ethical issues that have existed for a long time, however technology has made it much easier for copyright infringement and plagiarism to occur. In class we discussed the ethical use of technology, as well Creative Commons, a new way to protect original work without the strict rules of copyright.

Copyright law and plagiarism definitely relate to my major field (elementary education). As a teacher I need to be aware of copyright law so that I do not infringe upon it when I use other people's work in lessons. I will also have to educate my students on plagiarism so that they avoid it throughout their school careers and their lives.

This YouTube video is an explanation of copyright law using Disney movies and characters. I chose this video because it is a fun way to learn about a somewhat uninteresting subject. It would be a fun video to show my students as an introduction to copyright law and plagiarism.

What is Copyright Law?

Copyright applies to tangible and creative works, and gives the author control over how their work can be used. It protects them from unauthorized reproductions and alterations. If you are interested in the specifics of copyright law, then you should check out the following video. It is a lecture by an MIT professor and reviews some important ideas for the ethical use of technology.