User-generated content

It is important to recognise that copyright in user-generated content will always belong to the author - which could be you. User-generated content is content created using the user’s own creative effort e.g. uploading his/her photographs, expressing thoughts in a blog, contributions and discussions within a forum, comments within a glossary and other instances where the user is not merely copying material or content from another author’s/owner’s work (remember this could potentially be an infringement of copyright).

The OU may like to reproduce user-generated content that has been submitted. By submitting or creating any online content (your own user-generated content) it is important to understand that this material may be reused by the OU for further educational purposes. You should not submit any material that you are not happy to be reused by the OU. As well as ensuring you understand the copyright situation surrounding your own user-generated content you should take great care not to publish any material that is obscene, libellous, defamatory or breaks the OU’s code of practice concerning harassment.

The above advice is reinforced in the policy documents governing student conduct (‘Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Software, Tools and Content’ and ‘Student Computing Code of Conduct’), and applies to all students registered with the OU. These documents can all be found on the student policy document website.