Copyright and Federal Copyright Law

EDUCAUSE Now is a monthly podcast, focusing on the intelligent use of information technology in higher education. Each episode features a variety of stories, interviews, and views that relate to IT in higher education. Let us know what you would like to hear at podcast@educause.edu.

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The Section 108 Copyright Study Group (www.section108.gov), which was assembled to study and look for potential changes to copyright law, released its report on March 31. Established under the watch of the Library of Congress, this group of independent experts was charged with finding areas in copyright law that might need changes in order to better balance the positions of rights holders and "cultural memory organizations such as libraries and archives in the digital world."

The group has worked on this issue for nearly three years. Among their recommendations, they conclude:

In this EDUCAUSE Live! podcast, join host, Steve Worona, for the topic "Update on Key U.S. Copyright Developments". Steve's guest is James G. Neal, Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian at Columbia University .

The Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities has distributed an updated white paper—Background Discussion of Copyright Law and Potential Liability for Students Engaged in P2P File Sharing on University Networks. EDUCAUSE serves as staff to the Committee’s Technical Task Force. View EDUCAUSE resources on P2P/file sharing.

In working with EDUCAUSE and the American Council on Education (ACE) to address the consequences of illegal file sharing, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has developed a short video that can be used to educate students about this important issue. The video, titled "Campus Downloading," could be used during student orientation sessions, linked to when students log on to campus accounts, or broadcasted on student life television channels. Preview the video or order a free DVD. View additional resources on file sharing.