8th Grade Science Guide

Copyright in Canyons (Policy 300.04)

Copyright is a legal framework that grants creators exclusive rights over their original works, while also providing specific perimeters that allow for educational use. One of its primary purposes is to protect the rights of copyright owners while balancing the needs of teachers and students to use a variety of materials to promote learning, discovery, and engagement. In an educational setting, this means teachers and other employees are responsible for making good-faith determinations of whether the use of intellectual property is permissible through a license, a statutory exception, or the Fair Use Doctrine. This summary outlines employees’ and students’ responsibilities regarding the use of copyrighted materials within the Canyons School District. The district is committed to legal and ethical compliance with Title 17 of the U.S. Code. It expects all employees and students to make good-faith determinations regarding the use of others’ intellectual property. Core Responsibilities ●​ Annual Training: Teachers and other employees are required to complete an annual online training module regarding copyright law and district policy. ●​ Verification: Employees and students must verify that all instructional materials are legally obtained and properly licensed, or fall under a specific statutory exception. ●​ Student Instruction: Teachers are responsible for educating students on how to use copyrighted materials legally and ethically in their own academic and creative work. ●​ Justification: Teachers and other employees must be prepared to provide principals and supervisors, upon request, with the justification for any copyrighted materials used in schools or on district property. Evaluating Use of Material Before using any copyrighted work, follow this decision-making process to ensure compliance with Canyons District Copyright Policy 300.04: 1. The Legal Origin Test ●​ Was it legally obtained? Employees and students may only use materials purchased by the district or obtained through legal/ethical means. ●​ District Licenses: Check if the district already holds a license (e.g., purchased materials, textbook adoption, or streaming subscription). 2. Statutory Exceptions If employees and students do not have a specific license, the use of intellectual property must meet one of these three criteria: ●​ Classroom Use Exception (17 U.S.C. § 110(1)): For face-to-face instruction in a physical classroom where the audience is limited to students and teachers.