Creating a school yearbook is an exciting project, but it comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to copyright law. Understanding and navigating copyright concerns is crucial to avoid legal issues and ensure your yearbook is both creative and compliant. This guide will help you understand the basics of copyright law and provide practical tips for using content legally in your yearbook.
Common Copyright Questions
- “Hey, I just snagged this graphic off the internet. Can I use it in my sports section?”
- “I love that logo. Can we use it for our yearbook theme?”
- “What a great photo! I found this on a website. Can we use it in our yearbook?”
The answer to all these questions is no. Using copyrighted material without permission is a violation of copyright law.
Understanding Copyright Law
Copyright law protects the original works of authors, artists, photographers, composers, and others who create original material. If you use copyrighted material in your yearbook without the creator’s permission, you can be sued for copyright infringement.
Using Content Legally
While you cannot use copyrighted material without permission, you can use logos, art, and other images as inspiration for your own creations. However, you must ensure that your work is original and not a direct copy of the copyrighted material.
Copyright Guidelines for Yearbooks
- Establish Clear Rules and Consequences: Include rules regarding copyright, plagiarism, false or malicious statements, and accuracy in reporting in your staff manual or editorial policy.
- Avoid Using Screenshots: Never take a screenshot of a copyrighted image from Google or other websites and use it in the yearbook. Most images online are copyrighted.
- Attribute Quotes Properly: Always give credit to the author of any written work you quote. This includes “senior quotes” if used in the yearbook.
- Purchase Images Legally: You can purchase images from sources like Getty Images, ShutterStock.com, and DepositPhotos.com for use in your yearbook.
Additional Editorial Policies
- Avoid Offensive Content: Never include sexist or racist remarks, ethnic slurs, crude humor, inside jokes, cruelties, or glamorize illegal activities.
- Respect Privacy: Never invade people’s privacy by revealing private information or including bathroom or locker room photos.
- Ensure Accuracy: Never make up quotes. Always ask good questions and report responses accurately.
- Obtain Permissions: Always ask permission to record conversations and obtain a model’s release form when using students’ photos in advertisements.
- Special Care for Special Education Students: Obtain parents’ permission before identifying students in special education classes.
- Avoid Libel: Never portray people in a false or bad light, as this can harm their reputation and be potentially libelous.
- Advertising Policy: Establish a policy against running ads that sell items illegal for minors to purchase.
- Editorial Rights: Include written policies that reserve the right to refuse or edit material your editorial board considers objectionable.
- School Board Approval: Ask your school board to approve these policies.
Creating a yearbook that is both creative and legally compliant requires understanding and adhering to copyright laws. By following these guidelines and making responsible decisions, you can produce a yearbook that reflects your school community while respecting the rights of content creators. Always consult with your editors and adviser when determining what should and should not be included.
