FILE:  EFB

Cf:  EFA

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND PROTECTION

It is the policy of the Concordia Parish School Board to abide by the provisions of the Copyright Law of the United States and the Congressional Guidelines that delineate it.  The Board does not sanction illegal use or duplication of copyrighted materials in any form.  Employees and students who willfully violate the copyright position of the Board do so at their own risk and assume all liability and responsibility.

The Board directs that: 

1. Unlawful copies of copyrighted materials may not be produced on Board-owned equipment or within Board-owned  facilities.
    

2. Unlawful copies of copyrighted materials may not be used with Board-owned equipment, within Board-owned facilities, or at Board-sponsored functions.

The system shall develop and revise as needed, guidelines to ensure that the system's employees are aware of and have the information necessary to comply with the Copyright Law.

GUIDELINES

Computer Software

Permitted:

1. Making one archival or backup copy of a copyrighted program.

1. 1. Only one copy - either the original or the backup -may be used at any given time.
       

   2. If the circulating copy is destroyed, another "archival" copy may be made.
       

   3. If the circulating copy is stolen, the copyright owner should be consulted before circulating or using the "archival" copy.

2. Adapting a copyrighted program from one language to another for which it is not commercially available or adding features to a program to better meet local needs.
    

3. Writing the publishers of copyrighted programs in order to obtain permission to use the software in a manner that could be a violation of the copyright law.
    

4. Keeping a log of archival copies made which includes, but is not limited to, title, vendor, date of duplication, purchase order number, and computer format.  The log must be maintained for the period of use of the software plus three years.

Prohibited:  (without the express permission of the software publisher/copyright owner)

1. Making multiple copies of copyrighted software (or a locally produced adaptation or modification) for use within a school or school district.
    

2. Making copies of copyrighted software (or a locally produced adaptation or modification) to be sold, leased, loaned, transmitted or given away to other users.
    

3. Loading a copyrighted program into several computers or a local or wide area network from the same diskette.
    

4. Making multiple copies of the printed documentation that accompanies copyrighted software.

Database Downloading And Networking

    Downloading involves the transmission of data from:

1. remote or host computer to an on-site storage device for searching, manipulation, or storage, or
    

2. storage device such as a laser and/or video disc to a floppy disc or printer.

The following provisions apply to both classrooms and school library media centers.

Permitted:

1. Downloading to a printer bibliographic citations or full text of a document identified during a search of an online service (DIALOG, Wilsonline, etc.) as the terms of the school's contract with the vendors specify.
    

It is assumed that the user will require no more than 20-30 citations, will use legitimate password/subscription for invoice purposes, and will have local approval to order, receive, and provide payment for a full text document or citations.
 

2. Using downloaded material for individual research or teaching.

Prohibited:  (without express written consent of the database vendor)

1. Keeping archival copies of downloaded works.
    

2. Downloading a "substantial taking."
    

3. Making available commercially downloaded material.
    

4. Using laser disks on a network.

    Note:    A "substantial taking" would be the downloading of most or all of a database or several qualitatively superior portions.

Recoded:  November, 2004

Ref:    17 USC 101 et seq. (Subject Matter and Scope of Copyright)

Board minutes, 12-14-04, 1-11-05

Concordia Parish School Board