The $12,000 Tweet: A Collision at the Intersection of Social Media and Copyright Law

Abstract

The use of social media may be contributing to violations of copyright law and can create legal challenges for school districts trying to balance ease of communication and First Amendment freedom of speech rights against compliance with federal regulations. In this case, a district is threatened with a lawsuit for copyright violation when one of the employees retweets a trademarked phrase. The case explores how school districts monitor copyright law, issues surrounding social media accounts for teachers and other employees such as coaches, the district’s liability for what is shared on those accounts, professional development, and possible board and district responses.