TEACH Act: Description & Terms

The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH) was signed into law on Nov. 2, 2002. It deals specifically with use of copyrighted materials in digital distance education. If numerous requirements are met, TEACH facilitates the use of these materials in digital distance education without having to obtain prior permission from the copyright owner.

The TEACH Act updates the Fair-Use exemption of U.S. Copyright Law thus expanding the limitations to a copyright owner's exclusive rights. Fair-Use provisions, which were enacted into law in 1976, allow educators, scholars and students limited use of copyrighted materials without obtaining permission from copyright holders. The distinction between Fair-Use and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined but certain guidelines have been offered.