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Md. School Copyright Proposal Prompting Concern

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) -- Prince George's County school officials are proposing that work created by staff and students should be copyrighted.

Critics say that means pictures drawn by first-graders and lesson plans created by teachers would belong to the school system. And that is leading to concerns that copyrighting will stifle creativity.

University of Missouri law professor David Rein told The Washington Post that universities generally have "sharing agreements" for work created by professors and college students.

Board Chair Verjeana M. Jacobs says the board never intended to declare ownership of student work and amendments could be made at the board's next meeting. Jacobs says the proposal was designed to make clear who owns teacher-developed curricula created while using apps on iPads that are school property.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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