The existing Copyright Act of 1976 makes it virtually impossible for distance educators to transmit audio-visual or non-dramatic, literary works to students through any medium which may be received by the general public. It is a law that perhaps unintentionally discriminates against distance learning students. Certain revisions of the law are needed to make the richness and variety of all copyrighted works available to distance learners. This paper discusses: the history of the "fair use" concept; risks of information piracy inherent in the ease by which any work may be copied and transmitted electronically: and movements in policy formation, which include the Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights proposed revisions of the Copyright Act to protect works in the digital environment. Recommendations include: (1) finalizing and adopting the proposed Multimedia Fair Use Guidelines; (2) encouraging small-scale experimentation with new fair use policy; (3) distinguishing between "dramatic" and "non-dramatic" audiovisual works; and (4) educating the education community about copyrights. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/SWC)