School property

**mikek** · 02-25-2009 11:11 AM

Hi, I would like to know if reselling or photocopying exams and professor lectures is legal. Is this property of the school or professor, is there an copyright? Or once returned to the student, these tests are free use of the student?

Thanks

**hazele** · 02-25-2009 12:33 PM

I do believe it's perfectly legal, but I would check in the student ethics guidelines as well as the teachers syllabus to make sure it doesn't violate any school rules.

**BusinessAdviser** · 02-25-2009 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by hazele

I do believe it's perfectly legal, but I would check in the student ethics guidelines as well as the teachers syllabus to make sure it doesn't violate any school rules.

Actually, it's likely ILLEGAL. The copyright was created when the document was created. To copy that work is to violate the copyright owner's right to control his or her work.

**mthomas** · 02-25-2009 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by BusinessAdviser

Actually, it's likely ILLEGAL. The copyright was created when the document was created. To copy that work is to violate the copyright owner's right to control his or her work.

Exactly. I'm about 99% certain that lectures and exams are the intellectual property of the professor, school or both. In fact, I believe papers that you submit for grading are actually considered intellectual property of the school as well.

**hazele** · 02-25-2009 05:08 PM

Then why would it be excusable to record a lecture but it isn't legal to copy and redistribute?

**mikek** · 02-25-2009 06:27 PM

I know school sponsored websites can get away with sharing exams, because the site is monitored by the school and professors ban students who cheat online and also upload their own exams.

but what if a third party was to create a site that allowed students to share information and especially upload exams and notes. could the site be forced to take down the exams or face legal concequences. would students need to rewrite exam questions to make it their own?

**BusinessAdviser** · 02-26-2009 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by mthomas

Exactly. I'm about 99% certain that lectures and exams are the intellectual property of the professor, school or both. In fact, I believe papers that you submit for grading are actually considered intellectual property of the school as well.

Think you missed the point. For starters, I'm 100% certain that they're the property of the professor or school. But why would a work you create on your own the property of someone else? That's ridiculous. The papers you write yourself are...surprise...your property.

**BusinessAdviser** · 02-26-2009 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by hazele

Then why would it be excusable to record a lecture but it isn't legal to copy and redistribute?

Who said it is excusable to record a lecture? It's the property of the speaker, and he or she has the right to prevent you from doing so. You're just not legally entitled to do it, so sitting here arguing with those trying to educate you ("Then why would it be excusable to record a lecture but it isn't legal to copy and redistribute") is wasting everyone's time.

**BusinessAdviser** · 02-26-2009 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by mikek

I know school sponsored websites can get away with sharing exams, because the site is monitored by the school and professors ban students who cheat online and also upload their own exams.

but what if a third party was to create a site that allowed students to share information and especially upload exams and notes. could the site be forced to take down the exams or face legal concequences. would students need to rewrite exam questions to make it their own?

Knowingly allowing students to violate someone's copyright could get you into big legal trouble. And having students rewrite the same questions doesn't get around those questions being the property of someone else. Can't do it, let's move on.