ALCS Tackles "Copy and Paste" Culture in Schools

LONDON, March 10, 2011 - The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society has created a schools
programme, Copywrite!, to educate 11-14 year olds about the importance of
copyright and intellectual property.

The programme, Copywrite!, has been designed with the help of National
Schools Partnership, to be used as part of the KS3 curriculum in English,
Citizenship, Drama and ICT and helps students understand why copyright is so
important.

Barbara Hayes from ALCS said, "Young people these days are growing up in
a culture where "copying and pasting" from the internet is prevalent. We need
young people to understand why copyright matters and how it affects people
who write for a living - which may be them one day."

The programme includes lesson plans for teachers which encourage creative
writing and thinking in the students and highlights the social and moral
context of copyright. Video insights are also used to reinforce the effect
plagarism has on individuals, showing interviews with 4 professionals from
the writing industry including novelist, Sophie Kinsella, TV scriptwriter,
Toby Whithouse, journalist, Danuta Kean and publisher, Richard Charkin.

As well as the school resources, Copywrite! also includes a creative
writing competition where the winner gets a netbook, Amazon vouchers and
books, as well as GBP1000 book voucher for their school library, an author
school visit and class trip to a literary event.

National Schools Partnership is overseeing the schools participation in
the programme and has had a fantastic response from teachers. "I think
schools recognise that plagiarism is becoming a big problem these days with
young people having easy access to so much information from so many sources.
Quite often students use material without having any idea why they shouldn't
and this programme will really help educate them about why copyright
matters," comments Mark Fawcett, Chief Executive of National Schools
Partnership.

If you would like more information about Copywrite! or would like to
register to use the resources, please go to the website,
www.nationalschoolspartnership.com/copywrite.

Notes for Editors

About ALCS

The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society is a not-for-profit
membership organization. Set up in the wake of the campaign to establish
Public Lending Right in 1977, ALCS has distributed a total of GBP250 million
to writers since its inception (for further details check out the website at
www.alcs.co.uk). We collect and distribute secondary royalties
(www.alcs.co.uk/What-we-do/Where-the-money-comes-from.aspx) on behalf
of over 80,000 Members. ALCS is committed to fostering an awareness of the
value of copyright among writers as well as the wider public who use, enjoy
and benefit from the written word in all its forms. We campaign and lobby on
issues of importance to writers both at a national and international level,
to ensure that writers' rights are both recognised and rewarded. ALCS is
recognised internationally as a leading authority on copyright matters and
authors' interests. ALCS pays royalties to Members in 137 countries around
the globe. Follow us on twitter (twitter.com/alcs2010) and Facebook.
(www.facebook.com/pages/Authors-Licensing-Collecting-Society-ALCS/197064870439)

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About National Schools Partnership

National Schools Partnership specialises in reaching the youth and family
market through education. We create and produce a range of social and
marketing campaigns using our expertise in research, consultancy, digital,
marketing, education and events. National Schools Partnership work with
companies, brands, public sector organisations and charities to effectively
educate, engage and entertain children, young people and their families.

For further information please contact ALCS, Alison Baxter on
+44(0)20-7264-5705.

For further information please contact National Schools Partnership,
Sally Greene on +44(0)207-198-8370, sgreene@nationalschoolspartnership.com

For further information please contact Sally Greene on +44(0)207-198-8370, sgreene at nationalschoolspartnership.com; For further information please contact Alison Baxter on +44(0)20-7264-5705.