Learning management systems such as Luther's KATIE are terrific ways to share content with students. Though it may be easy to use tools such as this to distribute information, doing so falls under the exact same copyright laws and regulations as distributing physical copies. Generally, items must still be cleared through copyright to be used in these media. Fair use also applies in the exact same way it does for physical use of media.

Many faculty look to electronic course reserves or learning management systems to replace coursepacks, citing their ease of use and digital delivery. Using them in this way is legal provided that all copyright is cleared just like coursepacks. When providing these materials through a system like KATIE, it is the faculty member's responsibility to clear these copyrights and submit any copyright fees. If your materials are not covered by fair use, coursepacks may be a convenient way to ensure students pay for copyright licensing fees associated with their studies.

One advantage of online tools such as KATIE is it makes possible direct links to licensed library resources. For materials available via licensed library resources, no copyright fees are required. Therefore, this is the best way to provide easy, no-cost access to content directly from a KATIE site. Please note this applies to linking, where no copy of the material is made and distributed. If you have questions about linking to library resources, please visit the Reference Desk or contact your library liaison.

In addition to hosting print content, KATIE is also capable of streaming video.  Please contact the Digital Media Center if you are interested in using this feature.