Which of the options below is the most effective conclusion to the essay?
U.S. copyright law gives the author of a work the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display it. Material
published before 1923 is now in the public domain. Work created in 1978 or later is copyrighted for lifetime of the author
plus 70 years. Work produced between 1923 and 1978 is in a bit of a gray area. The best bet is to assume anything newer
than 1923 is copyrighted unless it specifically says otherwise, so apply fair use or don't use it at all.
As a practical matter, your treatment of someone else's intellectual property in the classroom is mainly between you and
your conscience. The chances of being caught or prosecuted for copyright infringement are very small. But the moral
consequences of ignoring fair use are immediate and powerful. It is hard to tell your students not to plagiarize when you do
it yourself. It's impossible to convince them that science is all about honest and ethical inquiry after you've stolen someone
else's work.
In other words, if you want to use copyrighted material make sure you are following fair use rules. Fair use practices let
O teachers use work that isn't in the public domain without breaking the law. You don't want to do it wrong and set a bad
example for your students.
Every scientific discovery is built on the work that came before it, and scientists freely and eagerly share their ideas with
one another. Teaching is all about sharing knowledge as much as possible, too. But you still have to respect copyright. It's
not just a good idea, it's the law.