In education, much of the copying done is protected under the fair use guidelines. There are four factors for consideration in fair use:
1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes.
2. The nature of the copyrighted work.
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Photocopying
Most single copies are legal, unless it is of a complete work. Multiple copies must meet three criteria and contain a notice of copyright:
1. Brevity- basic guideline is no more than 10% of the work.
2. Spontaneity- not enough time exists to secure permission (if you use something one year, you can't the next year without getting permission).
3. Cumulative Effect- Only nine instances of multiple copying per course per year. Only one set of copies by a particular author. No more than three sets from a particular collective work.

The notice of copyright can be as simple as this:
This photocopy was made under provisions of Section 108 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
Other basic guidelines: Don't copy the same thing year after year unless you get permission. Don't copy out of a workbook unless permission is given (check front for info).

Videos
Many guidelines exist for recording programs; check with me if you intend to do this or want me to record something for you. One rule to remember is the 45-10 rule: you may only keep a recorded copy for 45 days. It must be erased after that. You must show it to your class within the first ten days after the recording was made.
Rented videos can be shown in a classroom as long as it is for educational purposes, not for entertainment.

Computer Software
The only copies which can be legitimately made are back-ups which can only be used if the original fails. Once a program is loaded onto a computer, it cannot be loaded onto another one. This is considered a copy.