For example, making flashcards based on a specific textbook. It would still be useable by others, but designed to go along with the chapters in the book. Would that kind of thing be okay?

I don’t see why not, but let me check with the Guys and I will get right back to you.

Thanks Stephanie :)

I heard back from the Guys and they say they don’t see any problem with this unless there is a violation of copyright. I Hope this helps, let me know if you need further explanation.

That’s a good point Stephanie, copyright would probably be an issue as it’s pretty standard across all publishers.

Ahem…. publisher here.

If you look at it from the viewpoint of the publisher, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I don’t think you would copy the text from the book verbatim, would you? Probably not. Everyone who writes about something that has been written about before, is saying things that someone else has already said—but in a different way.

But the benefit to the publisher could be this: if you reference the textbook in your flashcard setup text (As in, “These flashcards are based on information contained in Joe’s Handbook of Car Repair, copyright 2008 by Automotive Press”), you could actually boost sales of that textbook by pointing people in its direction. I know if I had a textbook I had published, I’d be very pleased if people referenced it as teaching material as long as they gave proper acknowledgment/credit for the material and didn’t copy big parts of it wholesale. It’s free publicity, after all.

Finally, in the United States the Fair Use Doctrine allows for limited direct copying of material from any copyrighted material as long as it is for educational or review purposes (among other things), and as long as appropriate acknowledgment and credit is given to the original authors/publishers. If I remember correctly, there is no standard quantity or percentage set.

Good post Tony though we need to remember this is a global platform so not sure how this may affect the copyright. Certainly, you’re absolutely right, I wouldn’t mind if anybody used my material, especially if they referenced me. :)

Kassie was referring to flashcards that I think she was going to create following chapters and themes in a specific way and order from a single book. So I guess that’s the only grey area.

Your valuable input and advice will be needed so keep an eye on this thread! Thanks!

Marco, your observation on the global nature of the platform is well taken. I published an author’s book on the history of the King James translation of the Bible. In the U.S. there was no problem with his taking quotes directly from that version because the book is considered public domain here. But in the U.K., the government owns the copyright to the King James version of the Bible, so we chose not to sell or distribute there to avoid any copyright hassles.

Dang Brits! Don’t trust ’em I tell ya! :) cough

Ahh, that’s important. This book is published in Korea so I’m assuming it would depend on the copyright law there? Does it make a difference if it’s simply the vocabulary lists with definitions from other sources rather than the glossary provided? So many variables. XD

Copyright laws are not international. Different countries have different regulations.

Be careful. eduFire is the entity that would be sued. Even if it is legal in the U.S., that doesn’t mean a company can’t sue and try to have the case decided in their country.

@Kassie,
I don’t see how they can have any issue with your using their exact list of words if you don’t use their wording of the definitions. If that were true, we would have dictionary publishers stepping all over each other, because most of the words would be identical even though the definitions are not.