Frequenly Asked Questions

NOTE: The answers presented here are meant to help you address these issues in schools and classes. They do not constitute a legal notice and we do not claim that they are comprehensive.

Can I print and photocopy information from the Internet for my class? I heard that it's all right as long as I give the reference.

This is a question of copyright. Copyright law automatically protects a work as soon as it is created, regardless of its quality, format or content-whether literary or scientific-provided the work is fixed and original.

Copying a protected work in a computer system or on the Web, be it temporarily or permanently, is considered as a reproduction. Consequently, substantial reproduction without the authorization of the copyright holder is an infringement of copyright law. Downloading such a work and reproducing or photocopying it without authorization to do so or for purposes other than those authorized by the owner of the site or of the document is also an infringement of copyright law.

Other Considerations

Is printing material from the web the only way that your students can have access to it? The information is publicly available in simultaneously unlimited number of copies. Would it not make more sense to give them the URLs of the documents so that they can consult them on-line? They can access these documents from any number of places, be it home, the computer lab or the school library. If the students are provided with guiding questions or other scaffolding tools, they will have to exercise judgement in the consultation process.

Further details: Can teachers and students copy from the Internet?

Additional Resources:

Copyright Matters! Some Key Questions and Answers for Teachers

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