Although copyright law has many exceptions for educational purposes, there's a big difference between what you can do in the classroom and what you can do outside of the classroom. When you are in the classroom, you are free to perform or display any copyrighted works that you have legally obtained. Playing videos and music, displaying images in your presentations, reading texts aloud—all of these are examples of things you can do in the classroom You can also include copyrighted content in homework assignments or papers you turn in to your professor, but be sure to attribute your sources properly.
However, outside of the classroom, there are more limitations on what you can do. This is especially important to keep in mind if you plan to share other people's copyrighted works on the open web (for example, if you want to post a class project online and it includes copyrighted content from other creators).
Not everything you find on the Internet can be copied and reused without restriction. Even if you don't see a copyright notice, it's still likely that the work is copyrighted. However, there are many resources you can use to narrow your searching to content in the public domain or content that is available under a Creative Commons license.
When you are using others' works, there is a series of questions you will need to ask:
If the work is in the public domain, you're free to use it without permission or payment.
Works you find online or works in library databases may be subject to terms and conditions that can restrict how you use the work. Be sure to read any terms and conditions before using the work.
If so, see if your use falls under the license terms.
If the work is not in the public domain or available under an open license, consider if your use falls under fair use.
If your use is not fair, you will need to get permission from the copyright holder. If you can't get permission or the permission comes at too high a cost, you may need to consider using a different work. To better understand the permissions process, see the following resources:
If you plan to publish or have already published a portion of your thesis or dissertation (as a journal article, for example), you need to ensure that you have the right to reuse the published work.
It is possible to license away your right to reuse your own work, so take care when signing publishing agreements. When you’re getting ready to publish, check that the publishing agreement will allow you to use the article in your thesis or dissertation. If it does not, negotiate with the publisher to ensure you retain the rights you need.
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