2.1 General Sources
Title 17 of the United States Code contains the Copyright Act of 1976.

United States Code
The Legal Information Institute of Cornell Law School hosts this site containing the United States Code from the most recent version made available by the U.S. House of Representatives (new versions are loaded within 24 hours). The text of each code section is dated; to see if a section has changed, click the Updates link (which queries the House and Library of Congress Thomas databases).
U.S. Code: Title 17 - Copyrights
Copyright: An Overview
Links to copyright law source material from the Legal Information Institute.
Note: LII also covers other intellectual property topics in Patent Law: An Overview and Trademark Law: An Overview.U.S. Copyright Law
An alternate site for the Copyright Act published by the United States Copyright Office. Newly revised to July 2001. Also available in a downloadable version.
THOMAS -- U.S. Congress on the InternetThe Library of Congress searchable database of federal legislative information. A useful tool for researching copyright legislation.

2.2 Sections of the Act of Interest to Educators
Central to an understanding of copyright law are Section 106, outlining the exclusive rights of copyright owners, and Section 107, which places limitations on those rights to allow for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Title 17, Section 101 - Definitions
Title 17, Section 102 - Subject matter of copyright: In general
Title 17, Section 106 - Exclusive rights in copyrighted works
Title 17, Section 107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use
Note: Also known as the Fair Use Doctrine.
Title 17, Section 108 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by libraries and archives
Note: The Digital Millennium Copy Act (DMCA) amends the notice of copyright requirement in Section 108(a)(3).
Title 17, Section 109 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Effect of transfer of particular copy or phonorecord
Note: Also known as the First Sale Doctrine.
Title 17, Section 110 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Exemption of certain performances and displays
Note: This section may change in the near future. Complying with Section 403 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Copyright Office presented to Congress a May 1999 Report on Copyright and Digital Distance Education which recommended amendments to sections 110(2) and 112 of the Copyright Act. (See Part 3.3 below).
Title 17, Section 117 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Computer programs
Title 17, Chapter 3 - Duration of copyright
Note: Updated for the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act which generally extends copyright protection from life of the author plus 50 years to life plus 70 years.
Title 17, Chapter 5 - Copyright Infringement and Remedies
Note: The Digital Millennium Copy Act added Section 512 - limitations on liability relating to material online (e) Limitation on Liability of Nonprofit Educational Institutions. It applies to "public or other nonprofit institutions of higher education" who are service providers.
Title 17, Chapter 12 - Copyright Protection and Management Systems
Note: This chapter was added to Title 17 with the passage of the Digital Millennium Copy Act in 1998. See Section 1201 - circumvention of copyright protection systems (d) Exemption for Nonprofit Libraries, Archives, and Educational Institutions.

2.3 New Laws Amending the Act of Interest to Educators

Digital Millennium Copyright Act: H.R.2281/Public Law 105-304
"An original bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to implement the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, to provide limitations on copyright liability relating to material online, and for other purposes."
Signed by the President on Oct. 28, 1998. Now Public Law No: 105-304.
Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act: S.505/Public Law 105-298Extends the duration of copyright by 20 years. For example, a work created on or after January 1, 1978 is now protected for the life of the author plus 70 years.
Signed by the President on Oct. 27, 1998. Now Public Law No: 105-298.
ALA Washington OfficeThe American Library Association's briefing page on Copyright & Database Protection examines both acts in-depth.
EDUCAUSE Current Issues: The Digital Millennium Copyright ActResources for the education community on circumvention of copyright protection systems, fair use in a digital environment, and online service provider (OSP) liability. 

2.4 Regulations of Interest to Educators

Code of Federal Regulations: Title 37, Chapter II - Copyright Office
This site is also hosted by the Legal Information Institute.

Title 37, Section 201.14 (1993): Warnings of copyright for use by certain libraries and archives
Title 37, Section 201.24 (1993): Warning of copyright for software lending by nonprofit libraries