What is digital law?
Digital law is defined as electronic responsibility for actions and deeds. In other words, digital law refers to what you are and are not allowed to do while using the Internet. Ethical use encompasses all activities on the Internet that abide by the laws of society. Unethical use encompasses all activities on the Internet that do not abide by the laws of society.
Examples of ethical use of the Internet include properly citing sources, respecting others and reading and abiding by the terms of use for references, files, applications, etc. that you use.
Examples of unethical use of the Internet include hacking, pirating software, downloading music illegally, plagiarizing and creating and disseminating viruses.
It is important to know that there are significant consequences for violating digital law.
Watch the video below for a brief introduction to digital law.
Examples of ethical use of the Internet include properly citing sources, respecting others and reading and abiding by the terms of use for references, files, applications, etc. that you use.
Examples of unethical use of the Internet include hacking, pirating software, downloading music illegally, plagiarizing and creating and disseminating viruses.
It is important to know that there are significant consequences for violating digital law.
Watch the video below for a brief introduction to digital law.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as using someone else's thoughts or ideas as your own without properly giving them credit. Put another way, plagiarism is intellectual theft.
Oftentimes, plagiarism is intentional. Other times, it is accidental. Either way, plagiarizing can have serious consequences, including a failing grade, suspension or even expulsion.
To avoid plagiarism, you need to understand what it is. The following two videos provide a detailed explanation of plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Oftentimes, plagiarism is intentional. Other times, it is accidental. Either way, plagiarizing can have serious consequences, including a failing grade, suspension or even expulsion.
To avoid plagiarism, you need to understand what it is. The following two videos provide a detailed explanation of plagiarism and how to avoid it.
As you can see, this all boils down to one simple principle - give credit where credit is due. Fortunately, there are several online tools that can help you cite your information and sources properly. Here are four that I am particularly fond of:
- BibMe
- NCSU Citation Builder
- Purdue OWL
- Son of Citation Machine
For more information, read the following:
- What Constitutes Plagiarism
- Why Plagiarism is Considered Such a Serious Offense
- How to Avoid Plagiarizing in Your Own Writing
- BibMe
- NCSU Citation Builder
- Purdue OWL
- Son of Citation Machine
For more information, read the following:
- What Constitutes Plagiarism
- Why Plagiarism is Considered Such a Serious Offense
- How to Avoid Plagiarizing in Your Own Writing
Copyright and Fair Use
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines copyright as "the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (such as a literary, musical, or artistic work)".
Copyright law is used to protect intellectual property from theft and is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States, which is contained in Title 17 of the United States Code. (Please note that if you are using copyrighted materials from other countries, you must abide by the copyright law of the country of origin for the material being used.)
In order to use copyrighted material, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder in accordance with the law mentioned above. Failure to do so can result in a civil lawsuit, fine or other legal action. The one exception is use of material that is deemed "fair use". You can read the U.S. Copyright Office's description of fair use here.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines fair use as "a legal doctrine that portions of copyrighted materials may be used without permission of the copyright owner provided the use is fair and reasonable, does not substantially impair the value of the materials, and does not curtail the profits reasonably expected by the owner".
Knowing when something is covered by fair use is not easy. There are many gray areas. Fortunately, there are online tools available to help us. Here are two that I find particularly helpful:
- Emerson College Fair Use Tool
- Purdue University Fair Use Information and Analysis Tool
Watch the two videos below to learn more about copyright and fair use.
Copyright law is used to protect intellectual property from theft and is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States, which is contained in Title 17 of the United States Code. (Please note that if you are using copyrighted materials from other countries, you must abide by the copyright law of the country of origin for the material being used.)
In order to use copyrighted material, you must obtain permission from the copyright holder in accordance with the law mentioned above. Failure to do so can result in a civil lawsuit, fine or other legal action. The one exception is use of material that is deemed "fair use". You can read the U.S. Copyright Office's description of fair use here.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines fair use as "a legal doctrine that portions of copyrighted materials may be used without permission of the copyright owner provided the use is fair and reasonable, does not substantially impair the value of the materials, and does not curtail the profits reasonably expected by the owner".
Knowing when something is covered by fair use is not easy. There are many gray areas. Fortunately, there are online tools available to help us. Here are two that I find particularly helpful:
- Emerson College Fair Use Tool
- Purdue University Fair Use Information and Analysis Tool
Watch the two videos below to learn more about copyright and fair use.
Why is it important to teach digital law in schools?
Regardless of whether or not students are aware of the digital laws governing their technology use, they are still accountable for their actions and subject to punishment for infractions. As digital technology use becomes both necessary and commonplace in our society, it is important that students understand digital laws and the consequences of violating them. Failure to understand and comply with digital laws can result in serious legal ramifications. Thus, educators have a responsibility to make sure their students are informed and ready to use digital technology in a legal and ethical manner.
Test Your Knowledge
Play the following games to test your knowledge of plagiarism and proper citation:
- The Plagiarism Game by Lycoming College
- The Plagiarism Match Game by Northern Illinois University
- The Plagiarism Choose Wisely Game by Northern Illinois University
Take the following quiz to test your knowledge of copyright and fair use:
- The Discovery Channel Copyright and Fair Use Quiz
- The Cal State Sacramento Copyright Quiz
- The Plagiarism Game by Lycoming College
- The Plagiarism Match Game by Northern Illinois University
- The Plagiarism Choose Wisely Game by Northern Illinois University
Take the following quiz to test your knowledge of copyright and fair use:
- The Discovery Channel Copyright and Fair Use Quiz
- The Cal State Sacramento Copyright Quiz
Digital Citizenship by Stephanie Miller is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.