More on policies - digital rights / digital wrongs

[GrumbleDook]

Thankfully I have nearly done the Data Protection / Freedom of Information Act stuff now ... I just have to wait for it to go through governors and then then reword the bits they highlight (and this bunch are very good at only doing it to stuff that *really* needs it doing). After that is done I will place the text on here for others to use as they see fit.

 

Now onto the next one ...

 

This is more guidance than policy, but important nonetheless.

 

We are now at the point of having to clearly outline what users can and cannot do with video and audio ... so I am producing a bit of guidance to cover such areas as Copyright Law, including reference to ERA and PVSL.

 

At the moment I am not going to including about photcopying, but concentrate more on the things that mean that I have to have constant conversations with some departments about not ripping DVDs and also with some students about storing audio on their home areas.

 

Firstly I'll break it down to cover general copyright from the above act, and then go onto the specific areas of music (ripping CDs, storage, sampling, copying, use of copyrighted music in students' work or in teacher resources) and then apply the same to film, but including information about ERA (free to air recording) and PVSL.

 

What else do people think should be included? Graphic artwork? Digital Text?

 

I will also include links to royalty-free resources that are available to use as a school too ...

 

Any information appreciated and a full copy will be made available for others to use and adapt.

[Geoff]

I think you need to make it generic enough so it covers all sorts of digital media. Although I think Music + DVDs deserve addressing separately. I think you also need to touch on DRM. I think you should also point out the existence of licenses like Creative Commons.

[GrumbleDook]

Good point ... especially since I am trying to get agreement from the Head that all materials produced by the school should be freely available to at least other schools within the LA under a CC style agreement (just not picked which one yet though I do favour attribution non-commercial share-alike).

[ITWombat]

and don't forget that it has be simple enough for teachers to understand

 

"....and in summary, don't take the mick."

[Ric_]

A general rule of thumb... "If you are unsure whether you may be impinging on copyright/IP rights you probably are so don't do it!"

 

Maybe also a note about the fact that pictures found using Google Image Search are generally NOT royalty free as well.

 

It's a very broad subject area that you are trying to address Tony. In addition to your policy, it might be worth adding a sort of HOWTO guide on what to look for when checking to see if a material can be used.

[GrumbleDook]

Yep ... it is a very braod area, and although some of it is covered in ICT lessons it is quickly forgotten by students as teachers in other subjects tell them not to worry about where they get things from.

 

I'll put up a summary page later today for people to rip apart.

[bossman]

Why not make a dedicated one especially for the teachers bullet pointing the does and don't s followed by the copyright infringement to which it is aligned to.

 

also make it simple for the teachers to understand as the little darlings think they can make copies of anything and everything as ITWombat has already covered earlier.

[GrumbleDook]

Have you ever wondered why you started something?

 

This is going to be another policy from hell.

 

Next on the list is to include information from the CLA (Copyright Licensing Agency) which deals with fair-deal photocopying on an LA by LA basis ... except no-one at my LA knows who deals with it and that it is up to the school to deal with it all. We don't know whether the fee has gone unpaid for the last few years or not either. So guess who has the job of adding this into it all?

[webman]

So guess who has the job of adding this into it all?

 

Not the reprographics person then?

[GrumbleDook]

I wish ... since it nows needs to be explained as part of Reprographics, Library Services, Admin Office, use of classroom scanners, use of materials processed at home ...

 

*sigh* ... actually ... Craig, if you have time to post on here you must have time to help with this ;-)

[webman]

Sure, of course.. I'm only term time 8) My fees start from just £35/hr

[Uraken]

Have you ever wondered why you started something?

 

Hey Grumbledook this will be a really useful document when completed thanks for your efforts, will you post it here when complete?

[GrumbleDook]

Yep ... and I'll add it to the Wiki too ...

[john]

Sure, of course.. I'm only term time 8) My fees start from just £35/hr

 

God thats cheap, I won't get out of bed for less than £50 per hour

[webman]

Oh sorry did I say per hour? I mean per minute 8)

[Technomancer]

I went through this lot some time ago and reinterpreting the legislation for schools is somewhat challenging. I generally start with why copyright exists (to ensure authors or their licensed representatives get paid for their work) and move on from there. The best general rule of thumb is that you do not have the right to use it unless:

 

You created it.

You have paid to use it (or some one else has ie the school/LA)

It is explicitly being given away for you to use.

In all cases the creator usually retains the right to attribution and the other "moral rights" regardless of the state of the commercial rights.

 

The law, however, does allow the use of copyright material for educational purposes, review and some free social activities, though there is clearly a difference between playing a genuine DVD to a class and ripping a duplicate to give to pupils (the argument could be made that since a school is a business, doing so is counterfeiting - a criminal offense).

 

The ERA, CLA, PRS-MCPS Alliance and PPL all have pretty good websites which explain what their licenses cover.

 

I've also discovered that in our LA at least the licenses are managed by the Schools Finacial Services department, though the information doesn't appear to be very high profile!