Training Materials, Presentations, and U.S. Copyright Law

Avoid copyright infringement with this no-nonsense, plain-language guide.

With powerful tools such as Articulate Storyline, Articulate Rise, TechSmith Camtasia, Adobe Captivate, Lectora, and Microsoft PowerPoint, creating visually stunning presentations and training has never been easier.

Regarding the visually stunning part of training... adding compelling images and videos to your training is a great idea. But where are you getting those awesome assets? A quick search on the internet finds this great image of Mickey Mouse. Another search finds a cute cat video that will add the perfect amount of humor to your presentation. The online options are endless, and the assets are easy to download and import into your project.

You publish and upload the project to a web server or Learning Management System. Along with the kudos from your stakeholders comes a cease-and-desist letter from the lawyers at Disney. Worse, that cat video gets you sued. Even worse? You have to pay the fine, and it's painfully large.

As the boundaries between traditional and online education continue to blur, educators and institutions face unique challenges and opportunities to ensure that their eLearning content is effective and legally compliant. 

This book will equip you with the knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of copyright law in the context of training materials and eLearning. Its goal is to empower you to create, distribute, and use digital educational materials confidently while respecting the rights of content creators.

Throughout this book, you will explore key copyright concepts such as the fundamentals, fair use and its application in eLearning, open educational resources, licensing models, and strategies for obtaining proper permissions. We will also delve into real-world scenarios and case studies, providing practical insights to inform your eLearning endeavors.