Software Licensing - Information

Educators often need to use various materials when presenting lessons. We often access materials in many different mediums to use them in presentations to our students. We rarely violate copyright law knowingly, but how often do we do so unknowingly?

WHAT DOES A COPYRIGHT DO?  The copyright is designed to protect the creative and artistic work of any person who creates a piece of work. Most material created after April 1, 1989 is considered copyrighted and protected whether it has a copyright notice or not. For example, e-mail is copyrighted by the writer.

COMPUTER COPYRIGHT LAW is very specific: One program for one computer. You may not load 1 program onto 2 computers even if you own both. You may not take a school program home to load onto your computer. However, most programs do allow you to make 1 back-up copy to keep. The archival copy is only to be used if your copy fails until a new one arrives. The copy must be destroyed in the event you discontinue ownership of a program.

SOFTWARE LICENSING: Schools may buy software licenses for more than one computer. Most companies also offer lab packs, site licenses, district licenses, and for use on local area networks (LAN) at varying prices.  Colorado Springs School District 11 realizes the necessity of abiding by Computer Copyright Law. If any copyrighted software should not be on your computer, erase the program. We have network and district licenses for some of our software. Other software is “for one use only." Software licensing is necessary in today's world due to copyright law.

HOW SERIOUS IS COPYRIGHT VIOLATION?  $500 to $20,000 per infringement! If it is proven that intent was willful, the fine could be increased to $100,000. Is it worth it?

Our actions are watched by the severest of critics, the students. 
We need to encourage and model copyright law compliance.