Tuesday, June 12, 2001

Senate Passes a Bill Extending Copyright Exemption to Online Courses By DAN CARNEVALE Washington The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that would allow faculty members to use many of the same copyrighted works in online courses that they've long been allowed to use in traditional ones. The bill, known as the Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2001, S. 487, was approved on Friday by a voice vote. If an identical bill makes it through the House of Representatives and is signed by President Bush, it would extend the existing copyright exemption for classroom use of "dramatic literary and musical works" -- such as movie clips and popular songs -- to nonprofit distance-education courses. The legislation "reflects our understanding that we must be able to use new technologies to advance our education goals in a manner that recognizes and protects copyrighted works," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a prepared statement. He and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, who is from Utah and who is the committee's ranking Republican member, were authors of the legislation. Rep. Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat, has filed the House version of the bill, H.R. 2100. It has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. Faculty members in distance education and the staff of the U.S. Copyright Office have been advocating such a change to copyright law for several years. Publishing associations originally opposed proposed changes, but they later offered support after the bill's language was narrowed to protect the copyright holders while letting nonprofit colleges and universities use the works for academic purposes. Background articles from The Chronicle: Senate Committee Favors Letting Instructors Use More Digital Works in Online Classes (5/18/2001) Educators Praise Bill to Ease Copyright Restrictions on Online Instruction (3/14/2001) Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

President proposes new programs to study greenhouse emissions Professor at U. of Wisconsin-Superior, accused of harassing students, is fired 12 new chief executives announced Students' poetry Web site showcases hypertext verse Senate passes a bill extending copyright exemption to online courses