Online Music Lessons Legal and Ethical Considerations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An online music teacher discovers that a student has been sharing paid course videos with non-paying users. The teacher's strongest legal recourse is based on:
- Defamation law
- Copyright infringement and breach of contract (Correct answer)
- Privacy law violations
- Consumer protection regulations
Correct answer: Copyright infringement and breach of contract
Unauthorized redistribution of paid course content violates both copyright law and the terms of the enrollment agreement.
Question 2: What does 'informed consent' mean in the context of recording online music lessons?
- The teacher signs a government form before recording
- The student understands and agrees to what will be recorded and how the recording will be used (Correct answer)
- The student's internet service provider approves the recording
- The recording is automatically permitted once a student enrolls
Correct answer: The student understands and agrees to what will be recorded and how the recording will be used
Informed consent requires that students (or their guardians) understand and voluntarily agree to what is being recorded and how it will be used.
Question 3: A teacher posts glowing student testimonials on their website without verifying they are genuine. Under FTC guidelines, this could be problematic because:
- Testimonials must be reviewed by a music industry body
- Endorsements must be truthful and any material connections disclosed (Correct answer)
- All online testimonials require a notarized signature
- Student reviews are protected speech and cannot be used commercially
Correct answer: Endorsements must be truthful and any material connections disclosed
FTC guidelines require that testimonials reflect honest opinions and that any compensation or special relationship be clearly disclosed.
Question 4: A student in an online music lesson discloses that they are being abused at home. As a teacher in the US, what should you be aware of?
- You have no legal obligation since you are not a licensed counselor
- In many states, teachers are mandatory reporters and must report suspected child abuse (Correct answer)
- You should only act if the student gives you written permission to report
- Federal law prohibits music teachers from making such reports
Correct answer: In many states, teachers are mandatory reporters and must report suspected child abuse
Most US states designate teachers as mandatory reporters, requiring them to report suspected child abuse to authorities regardless of their role.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'moral rights' as they apply to music in the US?
- The right to earn royalties from all public performances
- Limited rights of visual artists to attribution; music has weaker moral rights protections in the US compared to many other countries (Correct answer)
- The absolute right of composers to control all uses of their music
- Federal protections guaranteeing all musicians a living wage
Correct answer: Limited rights of visual artists to attribution; music has weaker moral rights protections in the US compared to many other countries
The US provides limited moral rights mainly for visual art; musical works have weaker attribution and integrity protections than in countries like France.
Question 6: A teacher sells a self-paced online music course and later significantly changes the curriculum. Ethically, what should the teacher do?
- No action is needed since digital products can be updated freely
- Notify existing purchasers of the changes and provide access to both the old and new version if feasible (Correct answer)
- Delete the old course immediately without notice
- Charge existing students an upgrade fee to access the updated content
Correct answer: Notify existing purchasers of the changes and provide access to both the old and new version if feasible
Transparency with existing purchasers about material curriculum changes respects their reasonable expectations when they originally bought the course.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a dual relationship that could create an ethical conflict for an online music teacher?
- Teaching two students who are siblings
- Entering into a business partnership with a current student (Correct answer)
- Teaching students from different countries
- Offering both beginner and advanced courses
Correct answer: Entering into a business partnership with a current student
A business partnership with a student creates a dual relationship that can compromise professional objectivity and the student's trust.
Online Music Lessons Legal and Ethical Considerations 5
An online music teacher discovers that a student has been sharing paid course videos with non-paying users.
The teacher's strongest legal recourse is based on: