Teachers, learners and other partners must ensure when creating materials to be shared through the SCILT website or at SCILT conferences and when entering SCILT competitions that all images, sound and video are in the Public Domain[1] or covered by a Creative Commons license[2].
In addition, all images and audio-visual materials must include attribution (that is, giving credit by name to whoever created the original image, sound or video).
Exceptions
There is no blanket exception for 'educational use' in UK law. Although rights-holders may, in some cases, deploy Creative Commons licenses or bespoke terms and conditions that make it possible for others to reuse their content, this cannot be assumed to be the case. Even using material under a Creative Commons license requires attribution.
Where a pupil, teacher or presenter has taken the photo themselves, recorded the sound themselves or created a video themselves, then they are the owner of the work. If these photos, sound or video materials contain no additional images, sound or video owned by anyone else, then these materials can be used and shared by SCILT.
What to look out for
Copyright infringement claims frequently concern images or other audio-visual material found on the internet. This includes material posted to social media, websites, blogs, etc, which are publicly accessible, and where the person who shares the material does not own the rights to the material or have permission to use it. Successful claims can be up to £1K per image.
When creating materials to be shared through SCILT channels, at SCILT conferences or for SCILT competitions, all images and audio-visual materials must be covered by a Creative Commons license or be in the Public Domain.
Images or other audio-visual materials found on Google Images or through a simple Google search should not be used.
Some suggested sources of Creative Commons licensed materials
Please carefully read the requirements of the license before using any materials. Please always provide attribution.
Images
Pexels
Unsplash
Pixabay
Video
Vecteezy
Audio
Openverse
Film-making software like iMovie and Kinemaster contain royalty-free music that can be added to films.
Teachers, pupils and presenters may also want to consider creating their own graphics or video material using sites such as Canva.
Please note that materials that do not comply with UK copyright and intellectual property laws and do not adhere to these guidelines cannot be shared on the SCILT website, through SCILT social media or at a SCILT event.
[1] The public domain refers to creative work where the rights may have expired, been forfeited, waived, or are inapplicable. You can find out more about the duration of copyright on different materials through this UK Gov link. Images on social media are not in the public domain. This article from Press Gazette provides further guidance.
[2] Creative Commons (CC) provides free licenses for creators to use when making their work available to the public. These licenses help the creator to give permission for others to use the work in advance under certain conditions.