Social Media and the Culture of Sharing
Through Social media like Facebook and Twitter we have the ability to share information and knowledge easier and quicker than any other time period in history. This ability presents both opportunities and challenges within the realm of copyright. One key concept to remember?
Just because something is available on the internet does not mean that you have the rights to use it.
With copyrighted material posted to the web, there is a reasonable expectation that the material will be shared. This includes photographs, digital artwork, blog posts, YouTube videos, etc. However, the unlicensed use of someone else's copyrighted material is still prohibited. You cannot, for example, use someone else's photograph downloaded from Google Images to decorate or enhance a PowerPoint without the copyright holder's consent.
In order to avoid copyright infringement, try the following:
- Whenever possible, use material available under a Creative Commons license, where creators have intentionally licensed their works for certain types of uses.
- Use works that are in the Public Domain and are no longer protected by copyright.
- Consider if your purpose falls under Fair Use. Memes like Grumpy Cat are considered fair use because they are transformative.
Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
By Columbia Copyright Office [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else's work or ideas and intentionally or unintentionally passing them off as your own. It is a serious affront to academic integrity and honesty and carries severe consequences. You should be familiar with Dominican's statement on Academic Integrity, which can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Plagiarism is not necessarily illegal, but it is highly unethical.
Copyright Infringement is the use of copyrighted material without the consent of the copyright holder. Infringement can occur even if you attribute the work to the original creator. Copyright infringement, intentional or not, is illegal.
