Introduction
Has your social media newsfeed ever been flooded with great photos after an exciting college or professional football or basketball game?
Did you use any images, photos, or slogans to create a photo collage or meme to share with your friends?
Just because the Internet is filled with images, do not assume that you have a right to use them. Many of the photos you see online are owned by professional photographers and protected by copyright.
Logos, mascots, and even trademarked phrases, like "Roll Tide" and "War Eagle," are also a part of the commercial BRANDING that publicly identifies a school or team. Keep in mind that these graphics and phrases were designed for this purpose. Have you ever considered that the FREE use of those images, which are so easily accessible, might be a violation of copyright? So, what do you really know about copyright law and fair use? This lesson will explore specific cases and help you understand fair use principles and copyright infringement issues.
Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...
- Analyze how copyright laws are applied in specific situations.
- Describe the concepts of fair use and public domain and how those concepts apply to images.
- Identify commercial branding of athletics through mascots, logos, and slogans.
- Illustrate a fair use concept or copyright rule.
Essential Questions
- What is copyright?
- What is copyright infringement?
- What is fair use?
Enduring Understandings
- Copyright laws are established to protect the originator.
- Illegal or unethical practices may result in disciplinary measure, dismissal from employment, or criminal prosecution.
The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Career Preparedness standards: 12b.