FAQ

I often get really good questions via email. I thought that it would be helpful to share my responses on the wiki so that everyone would have access to them.

Copyright

 * Note most advice on copyright usually has a disclaimer attached. Generally recommending that you consult a lawyer with specific questions. The reason is that there is a lot of gray area and the results are often evaluated based on the context in which the work was used.

When using certain media in our projects (PP, Group wiki, Podcast , etc), do we have to e-mail the creator to seek permission before using it (in particular those that don't use Creative Commons)? A few examples: YouTube videos, clipArt from clipArt websites, photos from news articles, music from websites such as freeplaymusic, etc. Does the same hold true for information found in articles or websites found on line or is properly citing them an appropriate means of giving the author credit?
 * //Yes, if there is no license attached you need to email the creator for permission to use the work. You should also note that permission was granted in your citation. Images found using the Google Image Search tool are often covered by copyright because no author is listed so you must contact the creator. (Note: Click on the advanced link to search by Usage Rights when using the Google Image search engine.) For this course if the embed code contains a link back to the original source and/or the name of the creator (YouTube for example) I don't make you create a separate citation. Remember that clipart also falls under copyright law. For this reason you CANNOT take a screen shot of your microsoft clipart and post it to a web site. Photos from news sites are also copyright protected-- remember the debacle over the image of President Obama? Whether you are using an image from a website or paraphrasing an article found online-- you need to cite your sources. (The University of Indiana tutorial is a great resource for identifying plagiarism when paraphrasing.)//

In our presentation projects (PowerPoint, Podcast and Digital Story), is there a certain procedure for citing references? For instance, if I list out the resources I used on the final slide in a PowerPoint or a Digital Story, is that sufficiently referencing the creators or do we also have to reference them on each particular slide as well? (Ex: (author's name, year)) Does the same hold true for media and if so what would be the correct way to reference that on a slide?
 * //In this course when you quote someone or paraphrase a resource I would like the citation to be on the slide with the information- for PowerPoint. Images and other media can be cited on a reference slide at the end (please indicate the slide in which the image appears.) I think for the Podcast and the Digital Story it is best to include it in the media (podcast, video etc) and on the site where it is posted (e.g. your wiki- just copy and paste it). The reason is that if someone is viewing your digital storytelling project on YouTube rather than your wiki the citations will still be included. However, often the credits in the video run too fast for the viewer to read- thus it is good to include it on your wiki. If you were using APA style for example there is a very particular format for your citation. (Check out OWL from Purdue). I am not as particular. As long as you include the name of the work, the author, and most importantly a link to the original web page where you downloaded the work- then you will not loose any points. (Note: please DO NOT link to search results). If the website requests that you use a particular format (e.g. pics4learning images) then you should use that format. It is easier anyway because it is usually just a copy/paste. One more note: other instructors teach this course and may have different requirements for citations.//

In regards to the Podcast, how do we reference material in that medium? Is there a separate sheet we should complete or record a list of references on the end of the project?
 * //At the very least you should list the reference for the material used in your podcast on the page with your podcast. (You won't loose any points if you do this.) If for example you incorporated music from ccmixter (a creative commons resource) then you should include the name of the piece, the creator, and a link back to the site. You could also reference it in your podcast by saying at the end of the podcast "Background music created by..." .//

The questions above were posted by Jeremy Love. Here is a summary he wrote of some important copyright points:


 * When I am paraphrasing or quoting information or words in my projects (wiki, PP, pod cast, digital storytelling) from something written on the Internet (news article, website, blog), proper citation is fine...I won't need to e-mail the creator to seek permission.
 * If a photo is offered through a website or online newspaper...I will need to e-mail the creator to ask permission to use it.
 * If clipArt is offered through an online clipArt collection such as pics4learning...Use should be indicated in the Terms of Service. If no Terms of Service exists, then I would need to e-mail the creator.
 * I can use the standard Microsoft collection of ClipArt in my PowerPoint, but cannot use the images for personal websites or wikis.
 * Using images covered under Creative Commons from Flickr require no e-mail to the person who posted the picture as long as they have indicated the image can be used for my desired purpose.

Here are some more questions on copyright...

Thanks for the videos on copyrighting laws. I have a quick question: What if you find a site which states:

Very simply, you can download anything *FREE* (items marked 100% free) on this site for personal or business or educational use. You can share these downloads with others as long as you give it to them and not "sell" it to them. I would appreciate if you told these people that you share with where you got the downloads yourself!

All of our pages are encoded with copyright software. Thank you for helping those of us who work alone and provide what we can to help you!

This is a site I used for PowerPoint Templates. I collected my images from Microsoft Clip Art after I purchased the software is it still safe to use?


 * I//t seems that you can use the templates for PowerPoints in your classroom as long as you site your source. However, if you plan on posting this PowerPoint to the web or a site like slideshare then it enters a gray area. The site with the PowerPoint Templates states that you may not "make them available on your website (or other) websites as downloads without prior permission from Brainy Betty, Inc." . The reason that it isn't an easy answer is because you aren't reposting the file itself for download. The same is true of images from the microsoft site. On slideshare it isn't as if you can right click on an image and save it. Still, if someone wanted to they could get the information (image/template) if you make the PowerPoint itself downloadable on SlideShare. At this point it is a personal choice- I won't mark you down for images that give permission for you to use them and you put them in your PowerPoint-however other instructors might. You do still have to cite your source//
 * //I couldn't find a clear statement on copyright from the microsoft site. The site itself is copyrighted and one would assume the images are as well. However, on the Legal page it states "When you give others access to your content on the service, you grant them free, nonexclusive permission to use, reproduce, distribute, display, transmit, and communicate to the public the content solely in connection with the service and other products and services made available by Microsoft . If you don't want others to have those rights, don't use the service to share your content." I think that from the sounds of it that you can use the images. They used to state that you could not re-distribute their clipart but with their new image library they may have a more lenient policy. Can anyone else find more info in Microsofts clipart library on the web?//

Paula got this great response from off campus library services...

Below is Julie's response to my Clip Art question:

//"17. Office.com and Office Web App media elements and templates// //If you use Microsoft Office.com or the Microsoft Office Web Apps, you may have access to media images, clip art, animations, sounds, music, video clips, templates, and other forms of content ("media elements") provided with the software available on Office.com or as part of a service associated with the software. You may copy and use the media elements in projects and documents. You may not: (i) sell, license, or distribute copies of the media elements by themselves or as a product if the primary value of the product is the media elements; (ii) grant your customers rights to further license or distribute the media elements; (iii) license or distribute for commercial purposes media elements that include the representation of identifiable individuals, governments, logos, trademarks, or emblems or use these types of images in ways that could imply an endorsement or association with your product, entity or activity; or (iv) create obscene works using the media elements. For more information, see the Use of Microsoft Copyrighted Content webpage (http://www.microsoft.com/permission).// //Here's the link with this information:// //http://explore.live.com/microsoft-service-agreement?ref=none"// //Julie LaDell-Thomas// //Librarian// //Off Campus Library Services// //Central Michigan University//