Congress Eases Copyright Restrictions on Distance Education. Snippet: The legislation would amend the Copyright Act of 1976 so that online-education instructors could use excerpts from recordings of dramatic literary and musical works -- such as plays, musicals, and operas -- on course Web sites without seeking permission from the copyright owners. Under current law, only nondramatic literary and musical works can be used in online courses without permission. Most copyrighted works can be used in their entirety in a traditional classroom setting without permission.
