In 2020, <\/mark>COVID-19 changed everything in our lives, including the way we live, work and interact with each other. In the world of copyright, it created some unique circumstances under which we use copyright-protected materials. Highly publicized situations of using copyright materials under time-sensitve circumstances during this crisis included<\/mark> virtual story times and using content in online teaching. This raised<\/mark> questions about COVID-19 and copyright resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Note:<\/strong> This article was originally published on 22 December 2020 and has been updated on 24 February 2022. As you review the resources below, keep in mind that many of them were originally published between March and June 2020 and interpretations of fair use, fair dealing and short-term licenses from copyright owners may differ for subsequent uses of copyright materials in libraries and schools and other organizations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are a number of resources to explore regarding<\/mark> using copyright materials during COVID-19, divided into the following categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not a comprehensive list, but hopefully will get you acquainted with the many issues arising from using copyright-protected materials during this crisis. The resources represent many views, and our publishing this list does not necessarily mean that Copyrightlaws.com endorses any of these perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also be interested in our article The COVID Impact on Copyright for Education<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AL Live-Libraries and COVID-19: Considering Copyright during a Crisis<\/a> (recorded webinar with Lesley Ellen Harris<\/a>, Kenneth Crews and Jill Hurst-Wahl). Also see the recorded webinar, AL Live-Libraries and COVID-19: Considering Copyright during a Crisis, Part 2<\/a>. (NOTE: the webinar links are temporarily unavailable. We will update them as needed when they are restored.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fair Use During the COVID-19 Quarantine<\/a> (Illinois Library Scholarly Communication and Publishing podcast).<\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19, Copyright, & Library Superpowers (Part I): Fair Use and Exigent Circumstances<\/a> by Kyle Courtney; Part II<\/a> on Exigent Circumstances and S. 108 or Don\u2019t Stop Doc Del\u2019ing (sung to the tune of Journey\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d) by Kyle Courney; Part III<\/a> on Zoom, Zoom, Zoom: Copyright and Face-to-Face TEACH-ing in a COVID-19 World by Brandon Butler, Kyle K. Courtney and Tucker Taylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Statement of Library Copyright Specialists: Fair Use & Emergency Remote Teaching & Research<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19 and Libraries: E-Books and Intellectual Property Issues<\/a> (Congressional Research Services)<\/p>\n\n\n\n TEACHing from a Distance and Copyright Considerations<\/a> by Holland Gormley on the Library of Congress website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Copyright Guide to Rapidly Shifting Your In-Person Class Online<\/a>, Illinois Library Scholarly Communication and Publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Copyright Implications of Teaching with Videos<\/a>, a guest post by Sara Benson on this website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Covid Lessons \u2014 Copyright and Online Learning<\/a>, by EIFL’s Teresa Hackett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading Aloud: Fair Use Enables Translating Classroom Practices to Online Learning<\/a> by Meredith Jacob, American University Washington College of Law and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Internet Archive Answers Publishers’ Copyright Lawsuit<\/a> by Andrew Albanese in Publishers Weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Internet Archive has ended its “emergency library” early, The move follows a copyright lawsuit from several large publishers<\/a> by Kim Lyons in The Verge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Crisis \u2014 as in School Closures Due to Coronavirus \u2014 Justifies Fair Use, Say Librarians<\/a> by Kara Yorio on the School Library Journal website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Controversy Over the National Emergency Library<\/a> by Jonathan Bailey on the Plagiarism Today website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell Internet Archive to Remove Your Books from the So-Called National Emergency Library<\/a> by the Authors Guild. Authors Guild Open Letter<\/a> to the Internet Archive calling for the immediate shut down of the National Emergency Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep Moving Forward: Performance of the Copyright Office during COVID-19<\/a> by Maria Strong, Acting Register of Copyrights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Copyright Office Expands Electronic Submission Options<\/a> on the U.S. Copyright Office website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vendor Love in the Time of COVID-19<\/a> (aka Vendor COVID-19 Related Donations and Pro Bono Access), a UIPO (and allies) community-sourced list of video and other licensed content that library vendors made available on free or modified terms during the COVID-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Publishers Are Doing To Help During the Coronavirus Pandemic<\/a>, Association of American Publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Publishers Sign Onto a Coronavirus “Education Continuity License”<\/a>, Publishing Perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IFFRO Members Are Responding to the Challenges Posed by the Coronavirus Pandemic<\/a>, IFFRO News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Publishers Adapt Policies To Help Educators<\/a>, School Library Journal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fair Dealing and Emergency Remote Teaching in Canada<\/a> by Sam Trosow and Lisa Macklem on the Sam Trosow blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See temporary licenses provided for free by publishers like Scholastic Canada (Read Aloud Guidelines<\/a>), and Access Copyright license for read-aloud (see Canadian Publishers Launch “Read Aloud Canadian Books” Program for Teachers and Librarians<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Copyright Guidance for Using Films in Online Teaching During the COVID-19 Pandemic<\/a> by Emily Hudson, King’s College London \u2014 The Dickson Poon School of Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Webinars: copyright and online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>, UK Copyright Literacy Website (scroll to the bottom of the page to see relevant webinars).<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Help for UK Schools & colleges during closures due to COVID-19<\/a> on the Copyright Licensing Agency website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The resources below are all on the Copyrightlaws.com<\/a> website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Copyright 101<\/a>. This article is a primer on intellectual property and specifically focuses on copyright law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What Is the Public Domain<\/a>? Are Creative Commons works in the public domain? What about government works? This primer explains what public domain means and how you can identify what\u2019s in the public domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 Best Practices for Legally Using Google Images<\/a>. This article provides essential tips for following copyright rules when using Google Images. You can also download a Copyright Tip Sheet for Using Google Images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legally Using Images<\/a>. Are you using images you found through Google or on Instagram or FaceBook? Read this article to understand the copyright rules of using images you find online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Simple Guide to Copyright for Librarians: 15 Essentials Facts & Tips<\/a>. <\/em>This <\/em>is our most popular downloadable guide. It’s essential reading for all librarians and information professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n C<\/em>opyright Permissions Sample Letter<\/a>. This article will guide you in obtaining permissions, including how to write the best copyright permissions request letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Practices to Lower Copyright Risks<\/a>. This article provides tips for identifying your copyright risks when using third-party content, and keeping those risks to a minimum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Library Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Online Teaching<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Story Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The National Emergency Library (part of the Internet Archive)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
U.S. Copyright Office<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Publisher and Vendor Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Canadian Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
UK Resources<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Non-Specific COVID-19 Resources that May Be Helpful<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n