These pages introduce key copyright rules you’ll encounter as an educator at NWACC, what counts as copyright, what’s fair use, and what U.S. law requires. Each topic is explained in plain language, with examples and links to more in-depth resources.
💡 Tip: Start here if you’re unsure how copyright applies to your teaching or content sharing.
These pages explain the foundational rules and concepts behind copyright in an educational setting. Each link leads to a brief, focused explanation with examples and practical notes.
Learn what copyright protects, how long it lasts, and how it applies to teaching materials. (Includes seven focused subtopics.)
Understand how to apply the four-factor fair use test in an academic setting.
Understand how copyright applies to in-person and online instruction,.
Learn how to seek permission or licensing for classroom materials.
Using content that is openly licensed or already in the public domain can help you avoid many copyright concerns. These resources give you more flexibility to share, adapt, and reuse materials in your teaching.
Public Domain & Royalty-Free Resources
Find content that is free to use and requires no permission.
Use works that come with built-in permissions—just follow the license rules.
Open Educational Resources (OER)
Discover free, adaptable teaching materials shared by educators worldwide.
💡 Tip: Looking for flexible teaching content? OER and open access materials are a great place to start.
Still unsure about copyright, fair use, or linking to content in Canvas? You’re not alone. Many instructors ask:
The Library and Digital Learning teams are here to help. We can:
💡 Tip: Ask early, especially when preparing online course content.
This work by Northwest Arkansas Community College, Pauline Whitaker Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.