What is it?

The TEACH Act (Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2002) is a section of U.S. copyright law. It addresses the use of copyrighted materials in distance education settings.

Purpose

The TEACH Act revises Section 110 of the U.S. Copyright Act specifically for distance education. It aims to balance the needs of educators and distance learners with the rights of copyright holders1. It allows accredited nonprofit educational institutions to use copyrighted material for educational purposes without seeking permission from the copyright owner.

Scope

The TEACH Act applies to distance education that includes the participation of any enrolled student, whether on or off campus.
It extends permissions granted to educators but also introduces new requirements to prevent copyright infringement.

Resources

Distance Education and the TEACH Act
Technological Protection Systems for Digitized Copyrighted Works