The Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) and the Blackboard Academic Suite have made it easier for instructors to use copyrighted materials on Blackboard without having to worry about copyright infringement.

The CCC, a non-profit and government-chartered company that serves as the conciliator between publishers, businesses and schools, has assimilated with Blackboard to create "The Copyright Permission Building Block," which will advance the current software by adding on a direct copyright authorization. Direct copyright authorization will make it much easier for schools to access and utilize copyrighted materials for online courses.

In a statement released by the CCC, they promised that this solution will be free of charge and will “enable faculty and staff to quickly and easily obtain licenses to post copyrighted text-based content within Blackboard when developing electronic course materials.”

Current copyright laws allow instructors to post materials through Blackboard or electronic reserves, but with very strict guidelines. According to the Copyright Management Center – an online tool that assists in the management of copyright issues – articles, photographs, paintings, music or any original work may be used for educational purposes as long as there is no monetary benefit for the instructors and the university.

Before The Copyright Permission Building Block was implemented, university faculty would have to wait for the proper authorization for their online course materials, said Kevin Kelly, the assistant director at the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching.

“If the campus adopts this Building Block, then it might improve the overall adherence to copyright policies,” said Kelly.