• enalties to be applied in cases of criminal copyright infringement (i.e., violations of 17 U.S.C. § 506(a)), are set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 2319. Congress has increased these penalties substantially in recent years, and has broadened the scope of behaviors to which they can apply.
• Penalties to be applied in cases of criminal copyright infringement (i.e., violations of 17 U.S.C. § 506(a)), are set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 2319. Congress has increased these penalties substantially in recent years, and has broadened the scope of behaviors to which they can apply.
• A defendant, convicted for the first time of violating 17 U.S.C. §  506(a) by the unauthorized reproduction or distribution, during any 180-day period, of at least 10 copies or phonorecords, or 1 or more copyrighted works, with a retail value of more than $2,500 can be imprisoned for up to 5 years and fined up to $250,000, or both.
• Defendants who have previously been convicted of criminal copyright infringement under 18 U.S.C. § 2319(b)(1) may be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.
• Finally, a defendant is guilty of a misdemeanor violation if he violated rights other than those of reproduction or distribution, or has reproduced or distributed less than the requisite number of copies, or if the retail value of the copies reproduced or distributed did not meet the statutory minimum, or if other elements of 17 U.S.C. § 506(a) are not satisfied. Misdemeanants can be sentenced a maximum of one year and can be fined a maximum of $100,000

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    Undeniable credible source -> justice.gov. From the government and from the department of justice. I believe it would be impossible to be more credible than this.
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    Explanatory of what may happen and the facts involved in a copyright infringement. Very accurate, precise.
    
    
    
    Connectivity:
    
    Easy access. Found easily through online research. No log in required.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 99

3 more annotations...

• In a civil suit, an infringer may be liable for a copyright owner's actual damages plus any profits made from the infringement. Alternatively, the copyright owner may avoid proving actual damage by electing a statutory damage recovery of up to $30,000 or, where the court determines that the infringement occurred willfully, up to $150,000. The actual amount will be based upon what the court in its discretion considers just. (17 U.S.C. 504)

  Violation of copyright law is also considered a federal crime when done willfully with an intent to profit. Criminal penalties include up to ten years imprisonment depending on the nature of the violation. (No Electronic Theft Act, 18 U.S.C. 2319) 

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    Very informative and straight-forward. Not biased, simply the facts.
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    From navigating on the website and from noticing it is an .org website, the credibility appeared to be excellent.
    
    
    
    Connectivity:
    
    Considerably easy to find (2 page of google research), no log in required, easy access.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 90

• There are three major exceptions to the copyright law that are commonly used by educators: fair use, face-to-face instruction, and virtual instruction. Exceptions allow for the use of a work without requesting permission from the copyright holder and potentially paying fees.

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    The content is very objective and factual. It is not biased. It is strictly instructional. Without a doubt helpful.
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    University library database online. Very reliable resource.
    
    
    
    Connectivity:
    
    Easy access and no log in required.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 97

• Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also sets out four factors to be considered in determining whether or not a particular use is fair.

   

   

   
  1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
   
  2. The nature of the copyrighted work
   
  3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
   
  4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work
   

   

   

  The distinction between what is fair use and what is infringement in a particular case will not always be clear or easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.
• The 1961 Report of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law cites examples of activities that courts have regarded as fair use: “quotation of excerpts in a review or criticism for purposes of illustration or comment; quotation of short passages in a scholarly or technical work, for illustration or clarification of the author’s observations; use in a parody of some of the content of the work parodied; summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report; reproduction by a library of a portion of a work to replace part of a damaged copy; reproduction by a teacher or student of a small part of a work to illustrate a lesson; reproduction of a work in legislative or judicial proceedings or reports; incidental and fortuitous reproduction, in a newsreel or broadcast, of a work located in the scene of an event being reported.”

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    Vast yet concise, the content hit the main parts I needed to be clarified. Very precise information and factual.
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    US Government website, officially responsible for information on Copyrights. Needles to say more.
    
    
    
    Connectivity:
    
    Excellent access, it was the first website to come up on my google search. No log in required.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 99
    
    
    
    

•   <!-- warning -->      

  Copyright Basics: Virtual Instruction Exception

   

  Nothing on these pages should be construed as legal advice

     

  Virtual instruction takes place when a course is taught entirely online, or when components of a face-to-face course are taught in an online environment such as Blackboard or other course management system. Virtual instruction includes digitally transmitting class materials to students, which is authorized under the TEACH Act provision of copyright law
• Virtual instruction takes place when a course is taught entirely online, or when components of a face-to-face course are taught in an online environment such as Blackboard or other course management system. Virtual instruction includes digitally transmitting class materials to students, which is authorized under the TEACH Act provision of copyright law

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    The content is very straight-forward and provided the simple definition I needed.
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    The credibility is satisfactory since it comes from a University website and they are explaining how their online classes work.
    
    
    
    Context:
    
    The source is within an academic context and it is part of an explanation about having classes online. Valid and in sync with my statement.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 90

• The primary story of copyright in U.S. law focuses economic incentives and social progress. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the ability "...to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for a limited Time to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." All of U.S. copyright law (and patent law) grows from this one brief phrase in the Constitution.

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    1. Content
    
    Very serious, scholarly content. The intent is to inform university students or any person surfing the web about the purpose of copyright.
    
    
    
    2. Credibility
    
    The source is very credible and reliable, since it is from a University's Library
    
    
    
    3. Comparability
    
    The source is comparable to other sources, also listed below this statement, and is based on the U.S. constitution.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 98

• Subject to sections  107 through  122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following: 

   

      (1)  to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords;  

   

      (2)  to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work;  

   

      (3)  to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;  

   

      (4)  in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works, to perform the copyrighted work publicly;  

   

      (5)  in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, to display the copyrighted work publicly; and  

   

      (6)  in the case of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission. 

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    Highly credible source. Not only it's an University website, it is also from an Ivy League.
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    Straight-forward and self explanatory content. It's solely intent is to show what the Constitution of the US states about copyrights and since it is a highly credible source, I had no concern about the information being inaccurate.
    
    
    
    Connectivity:
    
    Easy to access, no log in required. Excellent connectivity.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 99

• Type   of Work

    

  Copyright   Term

   

  What   was in the public domain in the U.S. as of   1 January 2013³

     

  Unpublished works

    

  Life of the author + 70 years

   

  Works from authors who died before 1943 

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    1. Content
    
    This website has serious, scholarly content. The intent is solely to inform and educate/instruct. Also very useful, straight-forward facts.
    
    
    
    2. Context
    
    This source is within an academic context based on facts.
    
    
    
    3. Continuity
    
    The website has great continuity. The highlighted content is very up to date.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 95

• A public domain work is a creative work that is not protected by copyright and
   which may be freely used by everyone.  The reasons that the work is not protected include:
   (1) the term of copyright for the work has expired;

  • Credible Reasoning
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    A very credible and reliable source. University website (.edu)
    
    
    
    Content:
    
    Scholarly and serious, academic content. Provides useful and information.
    
    
    
    Connectivity:
    
    The website has very easy access. It listed on the first pages of Google search. No log in required.
    
    
    
    Score: 85
    
    

• How long does a copyright last?
   The term of copyright for a particular work depends on several  factors, including whether it has been published, and, if so,  the date of first publication. As a general rule, for works created  after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of  the author plus an additional 70 years.

  • Credible Reasoning
    
    
    
    Censorship:
    
    There is no censorship which can be applied to this website.
    
    
    
    Credibility:
    
    This website has excellent credibility, it is a website managed by the government of the US. Strictly serious and informative.
    
    
    
    Context:
    
    The context of this source suits very well with my intent which is very straight-forward, just looking for the facts.
    
    
    
    Score: 95

• Copyright protects an author’s specific expression in literary, artistic, or musical form. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, system, method, device, name, or title.

  • Credible Reasoning
    
    
    
    1. Content
    
    The content has the exclusive purpose of informing. It is serious because it is officially from the government.
    
    
    
    2. Credibility
    
    The source is very credible because it is the official website from the government available to inform us about Copyright.
    
    
    
    3. Connectivity
    
    The website has a great connectivity, no barrier whatsoever. Anyone can have access to the information, no log in required. Keep updated.
    
    
    
    SCORE: 98

• Copyright Law

    

  Scope and Terms of Copyright

   

    United States copyright law protects original work set in a tangible medium. Let’s take a look at what that means. First of all, what qualifies as original? In fact, the threshold for originality is generally quite low. For example, although the law does not protect a simple index such as a phone book, it would protect such things as a clever reorganization of a published list of phone numbers according to categories. In addition, the artwork used in advertising design would be protected by the law, as originality is commonly found in literary, academic, dramatic, musical, visually artistic, and other intellectual works. 

   

    Now let’s consider what is meant by a “tangible medium.” Tangible media include anything from printed pages to Web pages, from books to hard drives. Film and architectural blueprints are included, too. 

   

    Copyright law grants exclusive rights to copy, distribute, prepare derivative works from (such as translations), perform, or display the copyrighted work publicly. Under current U.S. law, this exclusive right lasts 70 years plus the life of the author for an individual rights holder, and 95 years for a corporate one. 

  • Credible Reasoning:
    
    
    
    1. Content
    
    The content is very aimed at proving my statement. It is material from a University, so it serious and scholarly.
    
    
    
    2. Context
    
    The context the highlighted area is within a "Guide To Doing Research Online", therefore it offers an ideal approach to my statement.
    
    
    
    3. Continuity
    
    The website has it's material available and has shown to be up to date.
    
    
    
    Score: 95