Copyright & Media Ethics

Subject	Digital Technologies
Class	JSS 3 (Basic 9)
Term	First Term
Week	9
Topic	Copyright & Media Ethics
Subtopics	Meaning of Copyright; Digital Rights; Fair Use; Ethical Use of Digital Media
Duration	80 Minutes

1. Introduction

Digital technology has made it easy for people to create, copy, edit and share information. Students can find photographs, videos, music, articles, books, software and other digital materials on the Internet within seconds.

However, the fact that digital content can be copied easily does not mean that everyone is free to use it in any way they choose. Many digital works belong to the people or organisations that created them. Copyright and digital rights help protect creators and their works.

Media ethics also helps people understand how to use digital content responsibly. It encourages users to respect other people's work, privacy, rights and dignity when creating or sharing media.

Key Idea: Copyright protects original creative works, while media ethics provides principles for using and sharing digital media in a responsible and respectful manner.

2. Meaning of Copyright

Copyright is a legal protection given to the creator of an original work, giving the creator certain rights over how the work is copied, used, distributed, displayed or adapted, subject to applicable laws and limitations.

Copyright can apply to many types of creative work. Examples include written works, photographs, music, films, artwork, computer programs and other original creative materials.

Examples of Copyrighted Works

Books and articles.
Photographs.
Music and songs.
Films and videos.
Drawings and artwork.
Computer programs and software.
Web content and digital publications.
Graphic designs.

Remember: Copyright generally protects the original expression of an idea rather than the idea itself. The exact rights and exceptions depend on the applicable law and circumstances.

3. Why Copyright is Important

Copyright is important because creators invest time, skill and resources in producing original works. Copyright protection provides a legal framework for creators to control certain uses of their works.

Importance	Explanation
Protects creators	It gives creators legal rights over certain uses of their original works.
Encourages creativity	Protection can encourage people to create books, music, photographs, software, films and other original works.
Recognises ownership	Copyright helps identify the creator or rights holder of a protected work.
Controls certain forms of copying	It can restrict unauthorised copying, distribution or other uses of protected works.

4. Copyright and Digital Media

Digital media includes content such as photographs, videos, music, articles, graphics, animations, websites and software. Many of these materials may be protected by copyright.

The Internet makes copying and sharing easy. A person can download an image, copy an article or forward a video within seconds. However, ease of copying does not remove the rights of the original creator.

Digital Content	Possible Copyright Concern
Photograph found online	The photograph may belong to its creator and may have restrictions on copying or commercial use.
Music recording	The recording and underlying musical work may be protected by copyright.
Online article	The written content may be protected and should not simply be copied and presented as another person's work.
Video	The video may have restrictions on downloading, editing, reposting or commercial use.

5. Meaning of Digital Rights

Digital rights are rights and protections that apply to people and their activities in digital environments, including the use, creation, access, sharing and protection of digital information and content.

Digital rights are related to responsible participation in the digital world. They can involve privacy, access to information, freedom of expression, protection of personal information and rights relating to digital content.

Examples of Digital Rights

Right to privacy.
Protection of personal information.
Rights relating to one's original digital work.
Responsible access to digital information.
Protection from certain forms of unauthorised use of personal information.

Important: Digital rights do not mean that people can use another person's digital content without restrictions. Users should respect copyright, privacy and other applicable rights.

6. Copyright, Plagiarism and Piracy

Copyright infringement, plagiarism and piracy are related to the improper use of creative or digital works, but they are not exactly the same.

Term	Meaning
Copyright infringement	Using a copyrighted work in a way that violates the copyright holder's rights, where no applicable permission or exception applies.
Plagiarism	Presenting another person's words, ideas or creative work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement.
Piracy	Unauthorised copying, distribution or use of protected works, often on a larger or commercial scale.

Examples

Copying an entire article and submitting it as your own work can be plagiarism.
Using a copyrighted photograph without permission where no applicable exception exists may infringe copyright.
Making and distributing unauthorised copies of a film or software can be piracy.

7. Fair Use and Fair Dealing

People sometimes need to use parts of copyrighted works for legitimate purposes such as education, criticism, research, reporting or commentary. Copyright laws in different countries provide different exceptions and limitations.

Fair use is a legal doctrine in some jurisdictions that may allow certain limited uses of copyrighted material without permission, depending on factors such as the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the work, the amount used and the effect on the market for the original work.

The term fair dealing is used in several jurisdictions, including Nigeria, for specific statutory exceptions to copyright. The exact rules and permitted purposes depend on the applicable law.

Situation	What to Consider
Using a short extract for criticism or discussion	Consider whether the use falls within an applicable legal exception and whether the source is properly acknowledged.
Using material for teaching	Consider the educational exception or licence that applies and follow the relevant conditions.
Copying an entire book or film	A large-scale copy is less likely to fall within a narrow exception and may require permission.
Reposting another person's work online	Check the creator's permission, licence or the platform's applicable rules before reposting.

Important: Students should not assume that saying "for educational purposes" automatically makes every use legal. Copyright exceptions have conditions and vary by jurisdiction.

8. Creative Commons and Openly Licensed Content

Some creators choose licences that allow other people to use their work under specified conditions. Creative Commons licences are an example of a licensing system that communicates permissions and restrictions.

Depending on the licence, a creator may allow people to copy, share, adapt or reuse a work while requiring conditions such as attribution or restricting commercial use.

Practice	Responsible Action
Using an openly licensed image	Read the licence and follow its conditions.
Using another person's photograph	Check whether permission or a suitable licence is required.
Using a Creative Commons work	Give attribution when required and follow the specific licence terms.

9. Meaning of Media Ethics

Media ethics refers to principles that guide people to create, use and share media content honestly, responsibly, fairly and respectfully.

Media ethics is important because digital media can reach many people quickly. A photograph, video, message or article shared online can be copied and redistributed widely.

Examples of Ethical Media Practices

Provide accurate information.
Avoid deliberately misleading people.
Respect people's privacy.
Give appropriate credit to creators.
Do not deliberately manipulate information to deceive people.
Obtain appropriate permission before sharing private photographs or information.
Avoid harmful or abusive content.
Correct significant mistakes when they are discovered.

10. Responsible Use of Digital Media

Students are both consumers and creators of digital media. They may take photographs, create videos, write articles, design graphics or share content on social media.

Situation	Responsible Action
You find a useful photograph online.	Check its licence or permission requirements before using it.
You want to use another student's photograph.	Obtain appropriate permission before sharing or publishing it.
You use information from an article for an assignment.	Write in your own words where appropriate and acknowledge the source.
You discover that information you shared is incorrect.	Correct the information rather than allowing the error to continue spreading.
You receive a private message containing another person's information.	Do not forward or publish the information unnecessarily.

11. Digital Media and Respect for Privacy

Ethical media use also involves respecting the privacy of other people. A person may have a right to decide how their photograph, personal information or private communication is shared.

Students should think carefully before photographing, recording or publishing content involving other people. Permission may be necessary depending on the circumstances.

Good Practice: Before sharing digital content involving another person, consider whether you have appropriate permission, whether the content is private, whether sharing it could cause harm and whether the use respects applicable rules and rights.

12. Copyright and Schoolwork

Students often use information and digital materials when completing school assignments. They should learn how to use such materials responsibly.

Responsible Practices in Schoolwork

Use reliable sources of information.
Write information in your own words where appropriate.
Acknowledge sources used in an assignment.
Do not submit another person's work as your own.
Use images and other digital materials according to their permissions or licences.
Ask a teacher when you are unsure about how a digital resource may be used.

Remember: Giving credit to a source is good academic practice, but attribution alone does not always give permission to use copyrighted material. Students should consider both acknowledgement and applicable permissions or exceptions.

13. Practical Class Activity

Activity:

The teacher presents the following situations to the class:

A student downloads a photograph from a website and places it in a school poster.
A student copies an entire online article and submits it as an original assignment.
A student wants to repost a friend's photograph without asking.
A student uses a Creative Commons image but ignores the licence conditions.
A student finds incorrect information in a social media post and wants to share it.

For each situation, students should identify the copyright or ethical issue and suggest a responsible action.

14. Guidelines for Responsible Media Use

Respect copyright and other intellectual property rights.
Check licences and permissions before using digital content.
Give appropriate credit to creators and sources.
Do not present another person's work as your own.
Respect people's privacy.
Do not deliberately spread false or misleading information.
Think carefully before publishing or forwarding content.
Use digital media in a respectful and responsible manner.
Ask for guidance when you are unsure about a copyright or ethical issue.

15. Summary

Copyright provides legal protection for original creative works.
Digital content such as photographs, music, videos, articles and software may be protected by copyright.
Digital rights include rights and protections that apply in digital environments.
Plagiarism involves presenting another person's work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement.
Piracy involves unauthorised copying or distribution of protected works.
Copyright laws may provide exceptions such as fair use or fair dealing, depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances.
Some creators use licences such as Creative Commons to specify how their works may be reused.
Media ethics encourages responsible, honest, fair and respectful use of digital media.
Students should respect copyright, privacy, licences and the rights of other people when creating and sharing digital content.

16. Evaluation

What is copyright?
State five examples of works that may be protected by copyright.
Why is copyright important to creators?
What are digital rights?
Differentiate between copyright infringement, plagiarism and piracy.
What is meant by fair use?
What is fair dealing?
What is media ethics?
State five ethical practices when using digital media.
Why should students respect copyright when using materials from the Internet?

17. Assignment

1. Define copyright and explain five reasons why copyright is important.

2. Explain the difference between copyright infringement, plagiarism and piracy.

3. What are digital rights? Mention five examples.

4. Explain five ethical practices that students should follow when creating or sharing digital media.

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