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Last revised May 4, 2006.

Course Syllabus for IRLS 588-001 Issues in Information Resources: Introduction to Copyright

Virtual Summer I & II
 Link to Course Outline

Kay Mathiesen



Summer 06 Instructor: Kay Mathiesen






COURSE DESCRIPTION Introduces the basics of copyright law and fair use, also discusses the theoretical foundations and history of copyright.

Content of the Course

The main function of information services (such as libraries) is to disseminate information.  This information is typically the intellectual property of the person(s) that created the information.  These owners of intellectual property have moral and legal rights that constrain how this information can be disseminated.  It is important that information services live within these constraints.

There are several different types of intellectual property (e.g., patents, copyrights, trade secrets).  Information services are principally constrained by copyright law.  In this course, we will discuss the various legal aspects of copyright that most affect information services (e.g., fair use, the first-sale doctrine).

In the age of digital information, the technology, economics, and law of intellectual property are constantly in flux.  In order to continue to effectively provide access to information, information services need to play a role in managing these changes.  This requires an understanding of the justification for intellectual property rights.  In this course, we will discuss the various ways in which people have sought to justify intellectual property rights.

Teaching/Learning Methods

This course will be delived virtually over d2l.  
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course you should:
  • Know the basics of copyright law and fair use
  • Be able to apply knowledge of copyright to various practices
  • Know the history of copyright
  • Understand the various justifications for intellectual property rights
  • Be able to evaluate proposed copyright laws and policies 
  • Understand copyright in an multicultual and international context

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Readings:
The readings for this course will be from various sources, required course texts, book chapters, journal articles, and on-line lectures and guides.  Some readings are from the required texts, others are on the web, available online from the UA Library, or available through electronic reserves.  The password will be provided when classes begin.
Textbooks:

Title: The Illustrated Story of Copyright (Paperback)
Author: Edward Samuels
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (March 22, 2002)
ISBN: 0312289014

Title: Complete Copyright: An Everyday Guide For Librarians (Spiral-bound)
Author: Carrie Russell
Publisher: American Library Association; Spiral edition (July 30, 2004)
ISBN: 0838935435

Title: Copyrights and Copywrongs
Author: Siva Vaidhyanathan
Publisher: New York University Press (August 1, 2001)
ISBN: 0814788068

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS 
Graded Assignments
Participation 20%
Individual Project 20%
Midterm 20%
Short Assignments 20%
Final Exam 20%

Individual Project/Presentation:  Each student will pursue an individual project on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor.  The student will present the results of this project to the class.

Midterm and Final Exams: Exams will be multiple choice, short answer, and essay format, with open book and open notes. 

Short Assignments:  Short writing assignments will ask students to do such things as dissect the readings, apply theories to cases, and analyze issues in the news.

Participation:  Students will be evaluated on the basis of both the frequency and the quality of their participation.

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COURSE POLICIES

Academic Code of Integrity

Students are expected to abide by The University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity, see . 'The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own.' If you have any questions regarding what is acceptable practice under this Code, please ask an Instructor.

Accommodating Disabilities

The University has a Disability Resource Center. If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the Disability Resource Center and request that the DRC send me, the Instructor, official notification of your accommodation needs as soon as possible. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate.

Assignment Policies

  • How to submit your assignments:  Students should submit their assignments as specified in the course schedule via the D2L drop box.
  • Assignment due dates: All assignments and exams are due in the D2L drop box, by midnight on the due date. (Due dates will be listed on the course schedule.) No late work will be accepted without a pre-approved excuse. You must contact me in advance to get approval to turn in work late. Even with permission to turn in work late, work may be docked as much as a third of a grade for every day it is late.
  • Writing style: Student written work should be free of grammatical or spelling errors. All sources should be clearly documented. (Any documentation style is fine as long as it is used consistently.)

Incompletes

The 1997-8 University of Arizona General Academic Manual (p.23) reads:
 
The grade of I may be awarded only at the end of a semester, when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of I is not to be awarded when the student is expected to repeat the course; in such a case the grade of E must be assigned. Students should make arrangements with the instructor to receive an incompete grade before the end of the semester.

If the incomplete is not removed by the instructor within one year the I grade will revert to a failing grade.

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GRADING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All assignments (except for individual short assignments) will be graded out of 100 points on a standard scale.  Individual short assignments will be graded with a check (full credit), check-plus (extra credit), or check-minus (partial credit). The overall grade for the short assignments will be on a 100 point scale (someone who got a check for all assignments will have a 100 for the short assignments).

The final grades will be given as follows:

A 100-90
B 89-80
C 79-70
D 69-60

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CONTACTING ME

E-mail: kmathies@email.arizona.edu
Office hours: Wednesday from 12-2:30 and by appointment.
Office: SIRLS Room 6
Phone Number: 520-621-3565
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