Be a Pro: Avoid Copyright Infringement in Your Online Course
It starts innocently enough. As a savvy speaker, consultant, or trainer, you are constantly consuming the latest research in your area. Other times you see a picture, an infographic or an interview related to your topic. You next connect that smart material to the smart material in your content.
DANGER! DANGER!
Next, you insert that content into your content. It is not your entire course. But that snippet, or more, helps you perfectly explore your ideas.
KIDS, IN A WORD, THAT IS BAD. YOU JUST COMMITTED COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.
I am not a copyright lawyer, so do not take any of this as legal advice. That aside, it is bad for your online course. You may be breaking the law. But for sure, you are not being your best. Here are the big offenders, and why they hurt your course and brand.
My Top 4 Online Course Copyright Offenders
1.Pictures
The longer you have been a formal speaker or consultant, the more you learn that most pictures are copyrighted. If you didn’t know, then now you know. STOP IT!! :)
This includes pictures of celebrities. They are tricky for your content anyway.
You think the celebrity has the same meaning to your participants as he or she does to you. That is a big assumption. The only celebrity that everyone might like is Dolly Parton, but even she has her haters.
That celebrity may also date your content, or not be inclusive. For example, a celebrity famous during the ‘90s may have no connection with a Gen Zer. Worse, they don’t understand the point you were trying to make in your content. Dolly Parton could be that person for you. (If you are unfamiliar with the fabulous Dolly Parton, check out her website. )
Also, because a picture is available in a software package (like PowerPoint™ or Keynote®), that doesn’t mean it is royalty-free. This is a big change from clip art days. These programs are better at notifying users of the original source, but I still frequently see pictures used without acknowledgement.
Solution: When you want to use a picture, ask yourself what the picture is representing. A picture speaks a thousand words, so what do you want to say? This tip is from my business coach, Terry Pappy: take the picture yourself.
Pointers: No person should be recognizable in the photo. Good examples of subjects are a squirrel, a sunset, or a bicycle. If you want to use people, even friends, have them sign a photography release. This creates a personal stock portfolio for you. There are also royalty-free websites.
2. Infographics
These are popular as we evolve to a more visual society. The idea is to express a complex process or information simply, in graphical form. They look great, and they are easy for the reader to understand.
They are helpful learning tools. However, they are absolutely copyrighted by the firm or person who created them. Whether you see the copyright symbol or words, don’t use them.
My main reason for not using them is that they give someone else the power of expertise in your course. It makes you look less like a professional and more like a compiler of information. It also can look amateurish in your materials, especially if another company’s logo is on it.
Solution: If an infographic is the best way to present your information, then hire a graphic artist to create your own. I am not a big fan of infographics in content for speaking engagements because they are too busy and could be built better for a screen display. However, in online courses, they can be helpful tools with these pointers.
Pointers: The writing font should be legible on a small screen, think smart phone. The screen should hang in view long enough for the participant to read it. Only do a voiceover if you are expanding on the graphic. Otherwise, let the participant read it.
3. Academic Research
If you are using academic research or models, then do the right thing and acknowledge that it is not your original work or thought. I am unsure of the legal copyrights on research, as some research may fall under the public domain. Check with a lawyer if you are unsure.
For example, Johari windows are popular. Below is the classic Johari window. The original research dates from 1955. Do you need to explain all the research behind a Johari window? No. But you should acknowledge, either in a citation or speaking, that it was created by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham.
Image Permission: This work has been released into the public domain by its author.
Solution: I have found most participants don’t care about academic research. As speakers, we tend to think this makes us look smart. However, it is more likely to bore your participants. It is filler and better to omit. If you still think the research is important, create bonus sections in your course that link participants to the research. If there is interest, they can pursue it further.
4. Certificate Programs
This happens when the speaker has an affiliation with a certification program. They want to use portions of that program in their program. For example, two popular certifications are John Maxwell’s Certification Program or DiSC Certification.
When you complete a certification course, typically there is a license agreement with the company. Many of these state that you cannot use the program in anyway except in its entirety.
Solution: Understand your licensing agreements. If you legally can and decide to use their information, then acknowledge it and your relationship with the company. For example, “This the DiSC model, and I am a certified trainer.”
In an online course, this is delicate. The company may have their own online course and will not appreciate you using their content in yours.
As with pictures, ask yourself the point of adding this information to your content? This original thought of yours could be worked out as a proprietary new model.
Your original ideas are powerful and can help many people.
There are many ways we innocently steal others work. It is typically done when the speaker is are unsure if their original thoughts are good enough. Well, you are enough! Your original ideas are powerful and can help many people.
Be clear what you are taking from others and what is your original thought. Acknowledge properly or pay for it, or omit it, because you are already awesome. That is being a pro!
“Your original ideas are powerful and can help many people.”
