192. Respect the Work: How to Protect Copyright in the Age of Sharing

In this episode of The Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson tackles a topic that’s becoming increasingly urgent in the nonprofit and volunteer engagement world: copyright, intellectual property, and the ethics of sharing content. As a content creator, trainer, and consultant, Tobi has seen a growing wave of copyright misuse, most often unintentional, but still harmful. From lifted slide decks to copied models to repurposed blog posts, the misuse of intellectual property not only creates legal risks but erodes trust within our professional community. This episode is your practical, plain-language guide to understanding copyright, protecting your organization’s intellectual property, and respecting the creative work of others, staff, volunteers, and sector leaders alike. Full show notes: 192. Respect the Work: How to Protect Copyright in the Age of Sharing Protect Copyright - Episode Highlights 00:53 Understanding Copyright and Intellectual Property 01:41 Copyright Quiz: Legal, Ethical, or Neither? 04:17 Real-Life Copyright Infringement Examples 09:06 Why Copyright Matters for Nonprofits 09:54 Common Misconceptions About Copyright 11:55 How to Protect Your Copyright 18:05 Avoiding Copyright Infringement 35:22 What to Do If Your Work is Stolen  Helpful Links Volunteer Management Progress Report VolunteerPro Impact Lab  Volunteer Nation Episode #188: Let’s Talk Volunteering with Weave: the Social Fabric Project  Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) Professional Ethics in Volunteer Management  Creative Commons Website  2026 is flying by. Still have doubts about your volunteer strategy? Join Tobi Johnson's Game Changers Q&A on Aug 27. Free registration. Get clarity.Register nowThanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.  For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at [email protected].