Tip of the week: Obey copyright law

‘Tis the season for symposiums and conferences. When designing presentations, whether for a committee of four or a crowd of 400, keep in mind that most images and content on the Internet are copyrighted, even if the Web site hosting the images doesn’t explicitly say so. You shouldn’t copy and paste an image or content directly from a Web site that does not belong to you or your organization. Try purchasing images and photos from online photo libraries, such as www.istockphoto.com or www.shutterstock.com, to ensure that you abide by copyright laws. If you want to borrow content from another individual or organization, be sure to get explicit permission. You can do that by asking the person directly and getting an approval in writing, or you can contact the Copyright Clearance Center at www.copyright.com or 978-750-8400.

This week’s tip is adapted from “Public speaking 101: Deliver presentations without breaking a sweat” in the April issue of Medical Staff Briefing, available in mid-March.