Copyright Implications in the COVID-19 World

By Emily Wagner on 03/25/2020 • ( 2 )

The next CopyTalk is a timely one: how to manage copyright when everything is suddenly “only digital” for libraries, schools, colleges, and universities that are closed due to the global pandemic. The webinar will include information on Section 108 (the library exception), how to evaluate fair use for digital teaching, how to maintain library services when all content must be delivered digitally for reading and teaching, and more—presented by Brandy Karl and Kyle K. Courtney.

Brandy Karl advises Pennsylvania State University Libraries on national and international copyright matters and helps to craft policies to provide the fullest possible access to the Libraries’ collections. Serving as an expert in the University community for copyright, fair use, TEACH Act, and other related issues, she supports the University’s mission through outreach, education, and consultation programs that help students and faculty understand how copyright and related concepts affect their work, as well as how they can make informed decisions in the use and creation of copyrighted works. She serves as a resource for the Libraries’ growing programs of digitization, research data curation and digital scholarship and coordinates with the Office of General Counsel and Information Technology Services, among others, to help develop and apply polices for intellectual property in the University. Ms. Karl previously served as a fellow at Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society and Fair Use Project. She has also been an attorney extern at the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.

Kyle K. Courtney is the Copyright Advisor for Harvard University, working out of the Office for Scholarly Communication. He works closely with Harvard Library to establish a culture of shared understanding of copyright issues among Harvard staff, faculty, and students. His work at Harvard also includes a role as the copyright and information policy advisor for HarvardX/edX. His “Copyright First Responders” initiative was profiled in Library Journal in 2013, and he was named a National Academic Library Mover & Shaker in 2015. In 2014, he founded Fair Use Week, now an international celebration sponsored annually by over 100+ universities, libraries, and other institutions. He also currently teaches research sessions at Harvard Law School, training first-year law students on the fundamentals of legal research as part of the Legal Research and Writing program. He recently won a Knight Foundation Grant to develop technology for crowd-sourcing copyright and fair use decisions. He holds a JD with distinction in Intellectual Property Law and an MSLIS. He is a published author and nationally recognized speaker on the topic of copyright, technology, libraries, and the law. His writing has appeared in Politico, Slate, Library Journal, and other publications.

Tune in Thursday, April 2, at 2:30 pm ET/11:30 am PT. This webinar is free and all you need to join is this link: https://ala-events.zoom.us/j/302671438

CopyTalk is a production of ALA’s Copyright, Legislation, Advocacy and Education Network (CLEAN) subcommittee – the liveliest volunteer group in the association, and perhaps in the world.