Intellectual Property

Intellectual property includes literary or artistic works, inventions, business methods, industrial processes, logos, and product designs. Nearly every activity engaged in by students, staff, and faculty in schools involves the production or use of intellectual property; examples include lesson plans, student assignments, speeches and lectures, videos, books, school Web sites, publications, reports, concerts, and plays. Most items used in education are legally protected intellectual property, often owned by someone other than the user. All members of school communities are permitted to use protected intellectual property, but they must engage in “fair use” or get advance permission of the owners. Users must be careful not to use intellectual property unlawfully, or they risk having to pay damages, fines, and/or court costs. Items in the public domain, ...