Final answer:
A professor photocopying copyrighted material for class could either violate copyright law or be permissible under fair use, depending on the country's laws and the academic context. The concept of 'fair use' allows limited uses like teaching without permission. Academic integrity requires avoiding unauthorized distribution of copyrighted works.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a professor photocopies fifty copies of a copyrighted chart to distribute to his students in class, whether or not this constitutes a clear violation of the copyright act is not always straightforward. The legality of such an action depends on the academic context as well as the specific copyright laws of the country in which it is being done. In some instances, this could be allowed under fair use exemptions, which balance the interests of creators and users to allow certain limited uses without permission or payment, such as for teaching, research, or scholarship.
Copyright is indeed a form of legal protection designed to prevent unauthorized copying, especially for commercial purposes. However, sharing images or texts for educational purposes may sometimes be permissible without securing permission, though this depends on a variety of factors, including the extent of the use, its effect on the market for the original work, and the nature of the copyrighted material. Nevertheless, assuming it is protected unless explicitly stated as public domain or allowed by copyright exceptions is generally a safe practice.
Regarding uploading content like answers from a lab manual onto websites, such activities typically violate copyright laws and can result in legal consequences. Academic integrity involves avoiding all forms of plagiarism and cheating, which includes unauthorized distribution of copyrighted educational materials.