Another reason why we need a balanced copyright curriculum
Nancy Willard from the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use has done some research into the harrowing intellectual property ‘lessons’ that have been including in the ‘I-Safe curriculum’ in the United States. I-Safe has apparently received $8.5 million dollars from the US Congress to produce an Internet safety curriculum for K-12
schools. They are now trying to get their curriculum into schools throughout the US. Don’t feel too comfortable - I know of similar messages being imparted on students in South Africa.
‘Here are just some of the things I have found:
From grade 5 curriculum:
“Intellectual property has value to its owner. The owner has control of what can be done with his or her intellectual property. So … It is wrong to copy or download articles, pictures, or other information from the Internet. When you download these items, the person who made them doesn’t get paid or get credit for their work, and you are stealing something that belongs to
someone else.”
From grade 7 curriculum
“Intellectual Property is a name used for copyrighted material or something that is intangible (you can’t touch it)
Examples are
1. An idea
2. Invention
3. Expression or literary expression
4. Unique name
5. Business method
6. Industrial process
7. Chemical formula
8. Computer program process
9. Presentation
For example, a unique name — no one else can take the name Disney and use it.”
Also in Grade 7 curriculum under a discussion on Plagiarism:
“Not only is it cheating, it is stealing. And there are possible consequences:
1. Fail the class
2. Fail the assignment
3. Suspension or expulsion from school
4. Could affect college eligibility
5. Lose your job
6. Get sued in court”
ccSA has sent a proposal onto the Shuttleworth Foundation to develop a balanced curriculum on copyright. Looks like this will become increasingly important.