Re: Distribution of personal study guide

From: Steven Jamar <stevenjamar[_at_]gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:20:00 -0500

On Jan 26, 2006, at 12:40 PM, Dodi Schultz wrote:

>
> "Amy" writes:
>
>>> Student has created a word document that contains images from the
>>> web and added his notes to it. He did not credit the web sites that
>>> he obtained the images from. He originally created this as his
>>> study guide for an art class. He now would like to give a CD of
>>> this to interested classmates (under 30 copies) to assist them with
>>> their studies. He is not charging them for it. Does this fall
>>> under acceptable use under the copyright laws?
>
> Speaking as a writer, not a lawyer--no way. Whether he lifted words or
> images and whether or not he is charging a fee to the folks to whom
> he's
> distributing this material that isn't his: He has no right to use the
> material without the copyright owner's permission.

Of course he can use the material -- in his own paper -- without the owner's permission. But, strong advocate as I am of fair use being broadened, I think this is probably over the line.

-- 
Prof. Steven D. Jamar                               vox:  202-806-8017
Howard University School of Law                     fax:  202-806-8567
2900 Van Ness Street NW                   mailto:stevenjamar[_at_]gmail.com
Washington, DC  20008   http://www.law.howard.edu/faculty/pages/jamar/

"If we are to receive full service from government, the universities  
must give us trained [people].  That means a constant reorientation  
of university instruction and research not for the mere purpose of  
increasing technical proficiency but for the purpose of keeping  
abreast with social and economic change. . . .  Government is no  
better than its [people]."

William O. Douglas

Received on Sat Jan 28 2006 - 01:20:00 GMT