the 'permissions page' on the site gives some info on the 'copyright' issue
https://ww2.iste.org/LL/about/index.cfm#permissions
http://www.copyright.com seems to be a commercial site ? Also only the U.S. ?
Personally ,I have often discovered articles etc that I would like to use , and find, if I contact the author and ask permission stating the use etc , they are more than happy to supply a written permission Academics especially are ,in my experience more than happy to assist in our search for knowledge.
Copyright & Patents (again, sorry guys)
Australian Moodlers This link is to an Australian Senate report 25th May 2004 that deals with the( TPM )Technological Protection Measures, the Digital Agenda Review (amongst other things) but in the context of the (FTA) Free Trade Agreement , with the US . Senator Lundy s comments are really quite interesting !
http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/Repository/Commttee/Estimate/Linked/3387-4.PDF
This link is one referred to in the paper The Intellectual Property Department
http://www.dcita.gov.au/Subject_Entry_Page/0,,0_1-2_12,00.html
I also saw somewhere very recently, (sorry cant remember where) that there is a new Education only mark to be introduced, i.e. a sort of special copyright mark to be added to educational material on the web , so that the so- marked material is really in a sort of Educational Public Domain .
Another link for Open Source research materials
http://opensource.ucc.ie/
Excuse me guys, but I am doing e-Business at Newcastle Uni and getting quite interested in more than just 'putting content' into a course !! Love to share with all of you
cheers
Joyce