UndergradSkiller: Skill Set Map for Undergraduates and Their Educators
INFORMATION LITERACY AND DIGITAL SAFETY
Copyright
Definition:
Copyright law governs how creative and intellectual works may be used, shared, and reproduced. A basic understanding of copyright helps students use sources appropriately in their academic work and understand the legal frameworks that apply to the content they create and consume.
Useful Resources on Copyright:
European Commission. (2026, June 22). EU copyright law. Shaping Europe’s Digital Future. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/copyright-legislation
Annotation: The European Commission’s page provides an overview of EU copyright law, explaining how various directives and regulations harmonise copyright protection across EU Member States.
Winstein, K. (2006). Introduction to copyright law. MIT OpenCourseWare. https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/6-912-introduction-to-copyright-law-january-iap-2006
Annotation: MIT undergraduate course introducing copyright law. Includes video lectures, readings, and assignments.
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2016). Understanding copyright and related rights (2nd ed.). WIPO. https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_909_2016.pdf
Annotation: WIPO publication introducing copyright and related rights for non-specialists. Covers the principles of copyright law, the types of rights protected, limitations and exceptions, transfer of copyright, and enforcement.
Peer Review: None
Table of contents:
- 2.2. Using Library Resources
- 2.2.1. Finding and Accessing Resources
2.2.2. Research Guides and Tutorials
- 2.3. Source Evaluation
- 2.4. News and Media Literacy
- 2.4.1. Media Literacy
2.4.2. Misinformation and Fact-Checking
- 2.5. Artificial Intelligence
- 2.5.1. Understanding AI
2.5.2. Evaluating AI
2.5.3. AI Terminology
2.5.4. AI Ethics
- 2.6. Online Safety
- 2.6.1. Avoiding Scams and Fraud
- 2.6.2. Data Privacy and Protection
- 2.6.2.1. Understanding Data Privacy
2.6.2.2. General Data Protection Regulation
- 2.6.3. Information Security
- 2.6.4. Digital Safety
- 2.6.4.1. Understanding Online Harms
2.6.4.2. Protecting Yourself Online
- 2.6.5. Cyberbullying
- 2.6.6. Ethical Social Media
2.7. Copyright
Author: Leeanne Irwin
Peer Reviewer(s): None