One of the topics covered in our course materials in both week 5 and now also in week 6 is copyright law. How do issues of copyright affect you in your own day to day life?

In my case, as an instructor, I do have to keep up with the rules for academic fair use. I need to be very careful that I do not try to provide materials for free that are protected under copyright law. To take but one example, though there are many books on my shelves that I want my students to read, I cannot simply photocopy these and post them to the course site in order to save my students the expense of purchasing them for themselves. I need to ask our library to purchase copies and direct students to the library for download.

Can you think of a specific area or areas of copyright law with which you need to stay conversant?

Do you know how to find out whether you are in compliance with any copyright issues that may impact you?