Copyright in e-Learning

We've been asked a few times recently "What can I use in my e-learning project?" "And what can I not use?"
Two strands here:

For advice on the copyright aspects of developing e-learning materials, a good starting place is the JISC Legal website. Here you'll find up-to-date publications written by practising lawyers which hopefully will clarify the murky waters that is copyright law. There is also an excellent 25 minute video which covers most of the concerns of FE. JISC legal is @ http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/.

Many of the questions we are asked concern the use of graphics in e-learning materials. The solution is to use either copyright-cleared licensed resources or images which have been placed in the public domain.

SCRAN is an excellent example of the former. This is not just a repository for Scottish cultural e-artifacts but contains many images which have much broader uses. Try searching for items produced by Oxford Designers and Illustrators. A veritable 3507 image-rich goldmine.

Creative Commons & the Internet Archive are good starting points in looking for images which are in the public domain or are licenced for non-commercial use. The library Lost? website (link to the right) lists a number of "free" resources available online. More will be added as time & tide allow.

Books? Remember books? Library Reference section has a number which will enlighten the e-copyright traveller. An interactive package about the Copyright Maze is located on the library server.