Share resources safely and respect copyright
A practical checklist for checking sharing permission, removing personal details and selecting the right audience before publishing a study resource.
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Check the permission for the action you are taking
A file can be useful for learning without being yours to redistribute. Before uploading, ask who created it, where it came from and what terms apply. Permission to read a resource in class may not include permission to publish it in a broader resource hub.
Notes you wrote yourself can still contain copied textbook pages, photographs, diagrams or extracts. Look at each part rather than assuming the whole file has the same status. If material has a licence, check the licence conditions, including attribution, restrictions and whether changes are allowed.
Educational use is not a blanket copyright exemption. If you are unsure about school materials, ask the teacher or the relevant rights holder and consult appropriate guidance. Do not treat an automated screening result or a description saying 'for study' as legal permission.
Look beyond the visible page
Check for names, email addresses, student numbers, signatures, grades, class lists, health information and comments about identifiable people. Review screenshots and photographs as carefully as typed text. A small identifier can become identifying when combined with the file title, class or context.
Check filenames and document metadata as well as the document body. Remove unnecessary identifying details using a method appropriate to the file format, and confirm the exported copy no longer contains them. Covering text with a shape or changing its colour can leave the original content recoverable.
Do not upload a sensitive file to a sharing service simply to discover whether a screen will flag it. ClassConnect's automated screening can read text and images using external AI providers. Prepare a suitable copy before submitting it.
Choose the narrowest appropriate audience
Sharing within a class and publishing to the Resource Hub are different choices. Decide who genuinely needs the material and whether you have permission for that audience. Avoid including class join codes in descriptions or public messages.
A class member can download a file and retain a copy. Changing permissions or deleting the original later cannot recall every downloaded copy. Consider that consequence before sharing a draft, assessment response or document containing information about others.
Write a clear title and description that explain the topic, level and intended use without claiming official endorsement. Do not label a resource as an authorised exam paper or official answer guide unless that description is accurate and you have the relevant rights.
Use screening as a warning system, not a certificate
An automated result can help identify possible file, privacy, safety and copyright risks. It cannot reliably establish every permission, detect every threat or understand every school context. A pass does not replace your own checks.
If a review finding appears, read what needs attention rather than simply acknowledging it. Replace or edit unsuitable material and run the required checks for the updated version. Serious identifying or harmful content should not be published because a softer part of the assessment looked acceptable.
If you discover a problem after publication, use the available controls for material you manage and contact the operator when further action is needed. Avoid reposting the sensitive details as part of the report.
A final check before uploading
This checklist is general educational guidance, not legal advice. Copyright and privacy questions depend on the material, permissions, context and applicable law. Use official guidance or seek appropriate advice when the answer is uncertain.
- I know the source and have checked permission for this particular form of sharing.
- I have removed unnecessary personal and confidential information, including filenames and hidden details where applicable.
- The resource title, level, source and description are accurate.
- I have selected the intended audience rather than assuming every sharing feature is private.
- I have reviewed the actual file that will be uploaded, not only an earlier draft.
- I understand that downloaded copies cannot all be recalled later.