Faculty Guide
This kit was first developed by the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. (RIAA) in 1998 for college and university administrators as an educational resource to teach students about respecting the creative works and rights of artists and to provide a basic understanding of copyright laws that pertain to music on the Internet. The kit offers an array of resource materials for faculty and students to learn about issues related to music and copyright law.
All materials contained in the SOUNDBYTING Campaign kit may be reproduced for distribution to your campus community. A computer disk containing the entire contents of the kit is also available for your convenience. Contact RIAA directly via e-mail at byteback@soundbyting.com or via telephone at 202.775.0101.
Resource Materials
- Background on the SOUNDBYTING Campaign: Provides an overview of the Campaign -- who is involved, why it is being undertaken and the critical role your school can play.
- Copyright & Music 101: Student-oriented information resource that provides basic information on copyright law as it pertains to music and the Internet. This also may be used as a stand-alone resource or as an enhancement to the enclosed teaching module.
- Summary of Relevant Copyright Law: An overview of copyright laws, both federal and state, which dictate the specific protections that govern sound recordings.
- Sound Recordings and Internet Licensing: A summary of current licensing requirements for sound recordings.
- Myths About Music and the Internet: Dispels some of the popular myths which have developed on the Internet.
- Additional Resources on CopyrightLaw: Provides a resource guide to relevant articles, books and Web sites for faculty and administrators who want a more in-depth knowledge of the issues.
- Background on the RIAA: A summary of the RIAA's mission, the organization's role in the SOUNDBYTING Campaign, and its activities in the area of protecting free speech and intellectual property rights.
- Sample "Dear Student Letter": A letter, which may be printed on your school's letterhead, and can be used verbatim or as a model for a more personalized letter to your student body. It provides students with a brief background on the issue and an overview of why your school is involved in the Campaign. A copy of your school's Internet policies should be attached to, or included in, this letter. The letter should be signed by the appropriate campus administrator and distributed to students via e-mail and/or as an intercampus mailer. The letter also could be included in orientation packets or posted in campus computer labs. If appropriate, some schools may distribute the letter during classtime.
- Poster: A Campaign poster is included in this packet. Contact the RIAA if you would like additional posters to post in computer labs, classrooms, dormitories, or other areas.
- www.soundbyting.com: The RIAA has created a Web site for the SOUNDBYTING Campaign. This site provides useful information on music, the Internet and applicable copyright laws. The RIAA updates the content frequently in order to keep this resource timely and interesting. Your students can be directed to the Web site via campus e-mail and through hyperlinks from your college or university homepage.
- Teaching module: A 50 minute cross-curriculum teaching resource to be used during the classroom instruction time, as well as in other student informational settings (e.g., freshman orientation, computer policy briefings). It can be used as a stand-alone lesson or to supplement a course of study. The module includes the following components: teachers' guidelines; goals and suggested teaching strategies; a list of objectives for students; background information, including additional resources/references; and several activities that require students to exercise critical-thinking skills. Teachers should feel free to adapt the module to suit their own circumstances and students' abilities.
Action For Success
The following activities are designed to make the SOUNDBYTING Campaign a success on your campus.
- Approach student organizations to endorse the Campaign: Approach appropriate student interest groups and organizations (e.g., student government, campus computing society, music clubs) to endorse the Campaign and distribute Campaign literature and information to their own constituencies.
- Identify student leaders to act as Campaign campus liaisons: Identify and recruit student leaders to help "carry" the Campaign message by speaking out in support of the Campaign.
- Enlist the help of the Information Technology Specialist: Ask your school's Information Technology Specialists to conduct ongoing searches of the school's server to identify any illegal music sites that are hosted there.
- Ensure that your school's computing copyright policy addresses the creation of illegal music sites: If your school's computer policies do not already address the issue of copyright infringement, work with your administration to draft and enact an appropriate policy. Sample language for school policies in this area is available upon request.
- Engage students in school-sponsored debates and dialogues on the issue: Work with your campus debate club, colloquy or other school-sponsored forums to address the copyright issue before student audiences.
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