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What constitutes
copyright or trademark infringement?
Copyright and trademark law allow for 'fair use' of materials for
classroom purposes. Therefore, for development purposes in an academic
setting, you are exempt from copyright and trademark law. The issue
of infringement arises when you submit your web site for a competition
where monetary prizes are awarded. If you receive a monetary award
for the site you are in fact obligated to comply with copyright
and trademark law. Consequently, the CCSC Central Plains Conference
must require proper copyright and trademark authorization for all
copyrighted and trademarked materials used in your site. Failure
to provide proof of authorization will result in an automatic rejection
of your site from consideration. Additional explanation and detail
is provided below. Students are encouraged to research question
regarding copyright and trademark infringement issues. An excellent
source for this information can be found at the below listed government
web sites concerning these issues.
Copyright:
http://www.copyright.gov/
Trademark: httP://www.uspto.gov/
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Must I use only
original graphics/IMAGES, sound and contents?
No, you are not required to provide original graphics or images
or sound or content for your site. Feel free to use what you wish
as long as you provide the appropriate disclaimers regarding copyright
or trademarks used in your site. Of course using only original material
negates this requirement.
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If I have used
an image from a free source (royalty free), what type of documentation/authorization
must I provide?
You need to be aware that just because a site offers itself as
"royalty free' does not mean that the offering site(s) have obtained
copyright or trademark authorization to reproduce and use those
materials. To be safe, get the owners permission and document that
permission.
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If I have developed
a site for my class which contains copyrighted materials, can I
qualify for cash prizes?
Developing a site for a class containing copyrighted materials
generally falls under the 'fair use' doctrine. The problem arises
when you enter the site in a contest where prize money is being
offered. Therefore, if you intend to submit a site developed for
a class containing copyrighted or trademarked materials you must
obtain permission from the copyright holder to use that material.
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If I had developed
a website for an organization and would like to submit this site
for a competition, do I need written approval from the organization?
Yes, you do.
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If more than
one person has worked on a web site, can I submit the web site as
my own work?
No, you must give credit and obtain permission to use someone
else's work.
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If my web site
uses material developed many years ago, can it qualify for this
competition?
A web site is free to incorporate materials developed prior to
the contestant's entry into college. However, the majority of the
work represented in a web site should have occurred during the contestant's
collegiate tenure. The parts of the web site developed prior to
the contestant's entry into college should be clearly marked in
the source code files for the web site.
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Can I resubmit
a site which I submitted last year but did not win?
If your web site placed during last year's contest, it is not
eligible for this years contest. Otherwise, you may re-submit the
page.
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How many sites
can I submit?
The contest limits the number of sites submitted per student to
one and only one.
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How many categories
can I submit for?
You do not submit a site for one of the categories per se. The
decision of an appropriate category will be made by the judges.
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How many prizes
can I win?
You can only win in one category which will eliminate your site
from consideration for the other categories.
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Does my site
have to be hosted on the contest site?
No, your site is not required to be hosted by the contest server.
The site however, must be accessible to the judges throughout the
contest. If the judges cannot get to your site they cannot judge
it. If you site is not hosted on the contest server you submit the
code for your site to complete your registration as would students
whose sites are hosted on the contest server.
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Can I require
a log-in to my site if it is an e-commerce site?
The judges are not required to provide data for your site in order
to access it. If in fact you require a login, you must provide the
appropriate login and password for the judges to use. Failure to
do will result in your site being eliminated from the competition.
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Do I have to
be present to win?
Yes, you must be present to win the contest. This of course assumes
your site has been selected as a finalist for the competition.
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What should
I expect during the on-site competition from the judges?
The judges will expect a short introduction and explanation of
your site during your presentation. Be prepared to answer questions
of the judges concerning such issues as copyright, trademark, database
access, etc.
