The following materials may NOT be uploaded to a course management system under the TEACH exception:
- Materials that are specifically marketed for educational use. Example: Textbooks
- Materials that are typically purchased by students for their research and classroom use. Examples: Textbooks, coursepacks, bootleg copies of materials
What CAN I upload to Canvas?
The TEACH Act allows using copyrighted materials for distance learning when:
- Content is only accessible to students officially registered for the course (that is, course requires an institutional log in like Black Board does)
- Content includes an appropriate copyright notice
- You hold the copyright to the material
- You have permission from the copyright holder
- Utilizing material that is in the public domain
- Note: If you use your own website to deliver course content and you want to post copyrighted content for student use, the site must be password protected and not available on the open web
However, there are strict limitations on student use of copyrighted materials in the online learning environment:
- Students should NOT be able to download the content to their own computers
- They cannot revise the materials
- They may NOT copy or distribute the materials
For more information, see the University of California’s Teach Act Details and the Copyright Clearance Center’s Brief Guide to the TEACH ACT.