ePortfolios- Collecting, Selecting, & Using Artifacts

Many think that in order to have a work copyrighted, you must register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Not true.

You automatically own the copyright to your own work the moment it's in a tangible form (for example, lyrics written on paper) unless you intentionally choose to waive your rights.

You may register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. Doing so makes your copyrights public record and allows you to pursue legal action against those who use your copyright without permission.

As a content creator, you can choose to add Creative Commons licenses to your own work if you'd like to make them freely and easily accessible for others to use.

Use the Creative Commons license generator to pick the right license terms to suit your personal preferences.

After creating your license, make sure to note your license information wherever you display or share your work. Platforms like Flickr, YouTube, and many others allow you to designate a Creative Commons license type when uploading your work.

Although most of us take and share pictures without a second thought, special protections are in place for vulnerable populations such as minors. If some of your artifacts include volunteer work with children's organizations/schools, for example, you may have to consider the subjects of the photo before including them in your online portfolio.

Minors

Questions to ask before uploading a photo to your portfolio:

• Are children's faces shown?
• Are children wearing name tags, school uniforms, or is there any other piece of information present that might give away the child's identity?
• Has a parent given express permission for their child to be photographed?

If your are not sure if a photo should be excluded from your portfolio, ask the organization that organized the event/volunteer opportunity about their media policies or consult with the Knights of Distinction coordinator.

Recording without express permission

The ethics of recording without the permission of all parties being recorded is a hot issue right now and the laws on this can vary greatly depending on the state, the content recorded, the location's "reasonable expectation of privacy" (i.e. standing in a public place vs. inside a private home), etc. As an ethical content creator, be mindful about who and what your are recording. Get permission if feasible and consider the content before posting any video or audio online.