Using Course Management Systems:
Guidelines and Best Practices for Copyright Compliance
So you've figured out that YouTube video would be considered Fair Use. How do you add it to your class in BLACKBOARD?
There's Help for THAT!
You can find that and other great tips and tricks for BLACKBOARD in the eStarkState Faculty Resources.
Posting an item to BLACKBOARD does not exempt an instructor from copyright regulations. Therefore, instructors are encouraged to follow copyright "best practices." In order of preference, these include:
Please see the following chart for additional reccomendations:
| Item | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Web site containing copyrighted material | Link to the web site via BLACKBOARD | Copying and pasting the information into BLACKBOARD |
| Copyrighted web image | Must be educational in nature; can be displayed in BLACKBOARD for severeal semesters (new as of verdict in GSU copyright case) | Indefinite use |
| Article from a library database | Direct linking to article allowed | Copying and pasting the article into BLACKBOARD |
| Scanned copyrighted image | Must be educational in nature; display in BLACKBOARD for one semester | Repeated use over multiple semesters |
| Scanned chapter from a book |
The minimum amount necessary to support educational purposes |
A majority of the work including key points and passages, especially for significant periods of time |
| Scanned article from a journal, trade publication, or magazine | A single article for several semesters (new as of verdict in GSU copyright case) | Multiple articles from the same publication and/or repeated use over multiple semesters |
| Audio files | The shortest amount of time necessary to support educational purposes (consider purpose and intent of work) | Repeated use over multiple semesters |
| Video files | The shortest length necessary to support educational purposes (consider purpose and intent of work) |
Repeated use over multiple semesters |
(Please note that these are suggested guidelines based on one interpretation of the U.S. Copyright Law. If in doubt, it is always advisable to err on the side of caution and complete a Fair Use Evaluation. When in doubt, consult your Librarian.)