Academics are Testing Copyright Law

Abstract

Final exam season is in full swing here at many academic institutions around the country. This testing process is an apt metaphor for several developments in copyright law over the last several weeks. While much of the recent public attention has focused on the entertainment industry and copyright, the recent testing of copyright law is focusing on the academic and research communities. These communities have a more legally complex relationship with copyright law than is often appreciated.

Keywords: copyright law, fair use doctrine, teaching, research, classroom use, electronic course reserves, market effect, infringement