Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Kansas
Classroom use
Thank you for taking time to answer my question concerning trademark, images/copyright , licensed logos. I am a kindergarten teacher and I have been using �environmental print� in my classroom for quite some time to help children learn to read. I have have collected hundreds of images from Google image in the way of restaurants, food items, movies, cartoon characters, movie characters, snacks, drinks, storybook titles, toys, games and many other types of �picture print� that is familiar to emergent readers. I have done extensive research about the use of these images for my own classroom use. I find that they are perfectly legal. I am confused about the next step I am ready for. We have put these icons into cd�s to present to other teachers in curriculum development (how they too might use it) Still okay to use however,�this is where it gets muddled and I have received both yes and no answers to the following question. If we were to have these CD images available to sell to these educators, so they too could use them to teach reading, is this legal or would I have to contact each entity for permission to do so? Again, I appreciate your feedback and time.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Classroom use
If the images are indeed copyrighted or involved Trademark rights, you are on thin ice in assembling, burning and distributing CD's, and absolutely crossing the infringement line if you sell them.
I would need more extensive info on the use and distribution but at a minimum you should spend some time @ the www.uspto.gov website. You can also email or call me but this would be billable.
Re: Classroom use
Copyright is a form of protection provided to the authors of �original works of authorship� including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works, both published and unpublished. The 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work, to prepare derivative works, to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work, to perform the copyrighted work publicly, or to display the copyrighted work publicly.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
