Copyright and Data Protection

Copyright is the right to use ideas or information created by someone else. It can be easily and often is flouted, particularly by students who do not realise how serious an offence it is to be in breach of it. With a wealth of web-based resources available, it is easy and quick to access with minimal effort. Sifting through, to find pertinent material is undoubtedly the most difficult task.

Brindley (2009), in her role of Chief Executive of The British Library, states that ‘copyright has successfully maintained a balance in the public interest for creators and researchers for 300 years. Yet copyright is under threat in the digital age.’(p.1). She argues that it is ironic how just as technology is allowing greater access to books and other creative works, new restrictions threaten to lock away ‘digital content’ in a way that would not apply to printed material.

Brindley (2009) also warned that this may have a detrimental effect on innovation, education and research. This topic is part of on-going discussions which are taking place at The British library.

Concerning data protection, this has become more prevalent during recent years, mainly due to large corporations and even government allowing public data to be leaked. Teachernet (2009) illustrates the 1998 data protection act which states that the following enforceable principles of good practice must be adhered to:

· fairly and lawfully processed

· processed for limited purposes

· adequate, relevant and not excessive

· accurate

· not kept longer than necessary

· processed in accordance with the data subject's rights

· secure

· not transferred to other countries without adequate protection.

A more sensitive reason why parents are particularly concerned with leakage of their children’s personal details relates to an increase in paedophiles trying to secure employment within educational settings. In addition to this it brought about the dark reality that if an individual had previously evaded capture this would not be detected by such a check.

References

Brindley, L. (2009). Copyright-what is the future for education and research? [Online] [Available]. http://www.bl.uk/news/2009/pressrelease2009506.html

[5 January 2010]

Teachernet (2009). Data Protection [Online] [Available]. http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/ims/datamanagement/data_protection/

[5 January 2010]