National Evaluation Series (NES) Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Test

Which action regarding copyrighted materials is prohibited under copyright laws?

1. Adding a graph from the textbook to a PowerPoint presentation

2. Making twenty-five copies of a height-weight chart for a class

3. Copying scripts found on the Internet for a school play

4. Developing a slide show using photographs found on a museum's website

The correct answer is: Copying scripts found on the Internet for a school play

The action of copying scripts found on the Internet for a school play is prohibited under copyright laws primarily because these scripts are typically considered protected intellectual property. When a script is published, it is automatically copyrighted, giving the author exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and publicly perform their work. Educational fair use might allow for limited use in certain contexts, but copying an entire script for performance without permission is generally not permissible. While adding a graph from a textbook to a PowerPoint presentation, making copies of a height-weight chart for a class, and developing a slideshow using photographs from a museum's website might involve some use of copyrighted material, these actions can sometimes fall under fair use or other educational exemptions, depending on context, amount used, and whether the use is transformative. In contrast, with scripts, the act of directly copying and using them for a performance typically requires explicit permission from the copyright holder.