Understanding Copyright and Intellectual Property in the Digital Age: Guidelines for Teacher Educators and their Students

Abstract

This article examines new developments in federal law and institutional policies related to copyright and intellectual property as they apply to faculty and students in teacher education programs in special education. Copyright law is explained, along with its implications for teaching in face-to-face, on air, an online instruction, and the changes associated with the recent passage of the TEACH Act are discussed. Intellectual property is then explained, along with a discussion of current efforts by colleges and universities to restrict the intellectual property rights of faculty members and students. The article concludes with some suggestions instructors can use to insure that they comply with copyright law in teaching, research, and service activities in addition to ideas for to protecting intellectual property rights for themselves and their students.