Myths

I don't really need to worry about copyright in my password protected course because I'll never get caught.

This is a tricky one because that 'because' clause is almost absolutely correct: it is highly unlikely that you will ever be caught, just like it is highly unlikely that your students will get caught when they buy their term papers off the internet. However, the price of getting caught can be severe.

And if you think your copyright infringement is different, you're fooling yourself. That is not the issue, however. The reason we want our students to write their own papers is not because we don't want them to get in trouble, but rather because it's the right thing to do.

While Fair Use Guidelines are unclear at best, a good faith attempt at compliance (only use questionable material if it is absolutely necessary; ask permission to use the information, at least before the second time you use it; and always properly cite your sources) should keep you within bounds and provide you with peace of mind as well.