ThinkQuest 99 Team Members and Coaches,
In this issue of Team TQ we will explore (1) the issue of citations, references, and
copyrights in relation to your ThinkQuest entry, and (2) we will discuss the dos and
don'ts of linking from your ThinkQuest entry to commercial Web sites. First a reminder and
an important announcement.
If you have not already done it now is the time to log into the ThinkQuest development
server and test your password. If there is a problem you need to know now, not at the last
minute in August.
The 1999 ThinkQuest Entry form is now on line at:
http://members.thinkquest.org:8080/tqapp/judging/entry.phtml
You can begin to enter information in the entry form at any time, and come back and
finish it later.
1. Citations, References, and Copyrights
Sources of information and materials not created by members of your ThinkQuest team
must be documented. References should be listed for all materials used in the research of
your entry. This includes books, periodicals, CD-ROMs, web pages and e-mail conversations.
If your entry reproduces materials not created by team members and protected by copyright,
then you will need to cite sources and verify that permissions from the publishers have
been granted to reproduce the materials. Citations must list where in the entry a resource
is used and how permission was obtained. Your ThinkQuest development directory contains a
template that you should use for citations and references.
When including material that was not created by team members in your entry, you should
assume that this material is copyrighted, and that you must obtain permission to use it,
unless there is a clear statement that the material is in the public domain or that it may
be used without permission. Publishing on the Internet is publishing and is not covered by
fair use laws.
The Web Resources section of the ThinkQuest Web site (www.thinkquest.org/web/) contains comprehensive
guidelines and an FAQ under the "An Introduction to Copyrights" heading. This
section contains important information on copyright issues.
We include several excerpts from that material here. But be sure to read the entire
document.
- Original vs. Copyrighted Material
Ideally, each ThinkQuest Team will review all the materials the Team can find on the
subject it intends to cover in its Entry. The Team will then develop its own approach to
organizing, presenting, and developing the subject matter. If this approach is followed
out by student Team members writing the entire Entry, that Team can be very relaxed about
the details of the copyright law. Thus, the ThinkQuest staff encourages each Team to
thoroughly research its selected topic, develop its own organization for presenting its
views on that topic, write or otherwise create its own Entry, and then document that Entry
by providing appropriate credits for the documents, web sites, books and other sources
that it used in preparing its Entry.
If the Team copies nothing (and this includes photographs, designs, and other items)
from the works of someone else, the Team will have no copyright problem.
But, sometimes, there is material that is particularly well written; or, a copyrighted
item, such as a photograph, simply can't be captured in words and a comparable photograph
can't be taken. It is absolutely appropriate to insert copies of such items if the owner
of the copyright protected materials that are to be copied gives a consent, permission or
a license permitting such copying. Such consents, etc. can be given specifically (e.g., by
a letter or other document directed to the Team itself) or generally (e.g., by a notice
included in the owner's web site that says that these materials are in the public domain
or may be freely copied if appropriate credits are given). It is absolutely appropriate to
insert copies of such items if the owner of the copyright protected materials that are to
be copied gives a consent, permission or a license permitting such copying. Such consents,
etc. can be given specifically (e.g., by a letter or other document directed to the Team
itself) or generally (e.g., by a notice included in the owner's web site that says that
these materials are in the public domain or may be freely copied if appropriate credits
are given).
It should be noted that there are some areas, recorded music, radio or television
programs, and motion pictures, where it is likely to be quite difficult to obtain needed
consents to copy and dangerous to copy in those areas without such consents.
Again, check the Web Resources section of the ThinkQuest Web site for more information
on this issue.
2. Logos, Ads and Affiliates on your ThinkQuest Entry
There should be no commercial ads in an entry except in the case of commercial sponsors
which have supported the team - for example, in giving the team free software or hardware
used for the creation of the entry.
Banners such as those used for the Internet Link Exchange are not allowed, since they
advertise commercial unrelated sites.
Teams are not allowed to be "affiliates" for commercial sites. For example,
links to on-line purchases which profit the team are not allowed.
That's all for now.
Sincerely,
The ThinkQuest Staff
