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Copyright

Copyright Best Practices

What Is the DMCA?

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a federal law that protects online service providers, like NWACC, when users upload copyrighted content, as long as the college responds appropriately to takedown requests. This legal protection is called “safe harbor.”

The DMCA does not require NWACC to monitor Canvas content for violations.
🔔 However, once a copyright holder submits a takedown notice, the College must respond swiftly to stay protected.

What Does “Safe Harbor” Mean?

Safe harbor means that if a user (such as a faculty member) unknowingly posts infringing content in Canvas, the College is not automatically liable if:

  • We remove the content when notified, and
  • We do not encourage or knowingly allow infringement.

🌟 Tip: The DMCA is not a free pass to share copyrighted content. It simply limits institutional liability if we follow the rules.

What’s the Risk for Canvas?

Canvas is often seen as “safe” because it’s password-protected, but it’s still subject to copyright law. Faculty uploading PDFs, streaming videos, or screenshots from paywalled content may be unintentionally sharing copyrighted works without permission.

Examples of potentially infringing uploads:

  • Full-text PDFs of copyrighted articles or book chapters
  • Scanned pages from textbooks
  • “Print to PDF” copies of paywalled web content
  • Pirated films embedded from YouTube

📌 These can all trigger takedown notices, even when used for educational purposes.

DMCA at NWACC

NWACC’s Policy 7002 (Peer-to-Peer File Sharing & Copyright Infringement) outlines how the College responds to copyright complaints—usually through Information Technology. While this policy focuses on illegal downloads (like file-sharing apps), it indirectly suggests IT is our de facto DMCA agent.

However, the policy doesn’t clearly cover Canvas or instructional content, which creates uncertainty.

💡 Tip: Until a formal DMCA agent is designated, it’s especially important to follow good practices and rely on licensed resources.

What Faculty Can Do

Use these strategies to stay protected and support student learning:

  • Link, don’t upload whenever possible
  • Use library-licensed content or open educational resources
  • Apply the fair use test for excerpts
  • Ask for help! The Library and Digital Learning can support you

📧 Need help? Email the library or one of Digital Learning's instructional designers, or contact your area's Chair or Coordinator.

Need Clarification?

📌 Concerned About Compliance?
Copyright takedown requests can be confusing. If you're unsure what to post, or worried about past uploads, get in touch. We can help you:

  • Understand DMCA responsibilities
  • Remove or replace content safely
  • Connect with Digital Learning or IT if needed

📧 library@nwacc.edu  |  📧 dl@nwacc.edu