Skip to Main Content
NWACC Library
Library Hours

A Short Course in Copyright for NWACC Faculty

Need-to-Know & Best Practices

Overview

Instructors at NWACC rely on a wide range of materials to support learning—including readings, videos, images, music, and more. Not all uses are automatically allowed under copyright law, and not all materials are equally restricted. This page outlines key concepts and tools that can help you use educational content legally and ethically.

💡 Tip: Start by understanding the basic rules. Then, explore whether Fair Use, the TEACH Act, or linking options apply.

What the Law Says

  • Fair Use (17 U.S.C. §107): Allows limited use of copyrighted content for education, commentary, and more—based on a case-by-case four-factor analysis. Apply Fair Use
  • TEACH Act: Permits digital transmissions of some copyrighted content for enrolled students in accredited, nonprofit educational institutions. Explore the TEACH Act
  • Face-to-Face Teaching Exemption (17 U.S.C. §110): Allows performance or display of works in a classroom setting during instruction. 17 U.S.C. §110

What You Can Use Without Permission

  • Materials in the public domain
  • Content with open licenses (e.g., Creative Commons)
  • Library-licensed content linked via permalinks
  • Your own original creations

💡 Tip: Need help finding public domain or open content? See Creative Commons and OER resources.

What Needs a Closer Look

Some uses fall into gray areas. These may require further analysis, limited access, or permission:

  • Multiple chapters from a single textbook
  • Sheet music, full songs, or recordings
  • Entire films or performances
  • Copies shared outside the LMS or beyond enrolled students

💡 Tip: Use the University of Arkansas Fair Use Checklist to evaluate questionable uses.

Use Open Access Research for Fewer Restrictions

Open Access scholarly works are freely available and typically less restricted. You may be able to reuse, excerpt, or link to them without formal permission.

Use Open Licensed Content for Maximum Freedom

OER logo

One way to avoid copyright confusion and pitfalls is to use content with an open license. Open Educational Resources (OERs) are materials that carry open licenses, often Creative Commons. These allow free reuse, revision, and sharing—as long as conditions are followed.

Explore OER options on our OER guide to find textbooks, modules, and more that support student access and faculty creativity.

Specific Use Cases