This online course covers principles in international copyright law. The aim of the course is to introduce librarians to complex international principles and apply and demystify these principles into everyday situations.  From the librarian’s perspective, international copyright law plays a role in their work in the following situations:

• posting content on a Web site or Intranet that will be accessed outside of the U.S.
• using content from outside the U.S.
• negotiating a digital license with a vendor/publisher/content owner who is based outside the U.S.
• applying fair use to non-U.S. materials
• distributing content beyond the U.S. borders

Note that this course is relevant to non-U.S.-based librarians and to librarians around the world.  Discussions and examples in the course will be geared towards those who register in the course and the countries in which they are based.

Topics covered include:

• the meaning of “international” copyright law in the librarian context
• key treaties and agreements in international copyright law (i.e., Berne, UCC, free trade agreements, etc.)
• why and how international treaties affect the use of content in your library, and your digital license agreements
• international copyright organizations that may of help to librarians
• comparison of copyright laws in different countries and how to apply that comparison when using content in your enterprise
• national treatment (i.e., which country’s copyright laws apply to the use of content in your enterprise)
• an introduction to the leading copyright convention, the Berne Copyright Convention (what is protected in other countries, and for how long, what exceptions exist in other countries, what kind of protection or rights exist around the world)
• digital copyright issues from the international perspective (an introduction to the WIPO digital copyright treaties)
• copyright issues and the worldwide distribution of content, and the exploitation of rights around the world
• obtaining global permissions for the use of copyright-protected material
• the future of international copyright law

Course Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, participants will understand the background of international copyright law, why international law applies to their librarians and enterprises, how to apply the international aspect of copyright law to their use and distribution of content, what international copyright law consists of, and how international copyright organizations can help the participants. The participant will be able to understand differences in copyright laws in different countries, what that means in the everyday use of content in their enterprises, the concept of national treatment under international treaties, guiding principles in the leading international copyright convention, the Berne Convention, and treatment of digital copyright issues from an international perspective. Participants will be able to describe copyright issues related to the worldwide exploitation of rights, and obtaining global permissions, and participate in discussions on the future of international copyright law.

Specific Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe the background on international copyright law.
2. Name what the international copyright law consists of.
3. Explain the role of the various international copyright organizations.
4. Describe the differences in copyright laws in different countries.
5. Discuss the notion of national treatment in international treaties.
6. Analyze which country’s copyright laws apply in a given situation.
7. Explain the role and guiding principles in the Berne Convention.
8. Discuss the treatment of digital copyright issues from an international perspective.
9. Analyze how rights are exploited on a worldwide basis.
10. Predict (and/or discuss) the future of international copyright law.

Performance Measure

Course assessment, exercises and discussions will measure and evaluate the degree of understanding that participants achieve over the learning process.

Prerequisites

This online course is the third of seven required courses for the SLA/Click University Certificate in Copyright Management:  Principles and Issues. 

CCM 100, 200 and/or 201 are recommend but are not prerequisites for participants in the Certificate.

There are no prerequisites for non-Certificate participants, who may take any Certificate courses a la carte.

People are Saying:

"Thank you, Lesley!  I am learning so much; this is a great series of
courses.  I'm signed up for the next one (and the two in Seattle)."

Please read: Copyright Management Certificate Program Honor Code & Use Policy

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