The Commons
Content is just about anything that isn't executable.
One of the most significant uses may be supporting instruction and helping people learn.
The video uses 400 cuts from 27 different Disney films to mock copyright law as overly protective of the interests of copyright owners -- Disney among them. Eric Faden, an assistant professor of English and film studies at Bucknell University, who produced the video with help from seven of his students, said it took eight months to make and recommends Teaching Copyright
Global Chokepoints project and harsh copyright enforcement regimes worldwide
Creative Commons Announces “School of Open” with Courses to Focus on Digital Openness
MUSIC AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
- MUSIC AND COPYRIGHT LAWS
- FREE MUSIC
- WILL THE MPAA BE ABLE TO CENSOR
ART?
Will the MPAA be able to censor art? A program that cracks the code designed to protect the content on DVDs from being copied for either legal or illicit uses. - TECHNOLOGY & THE LAW
- SELF PUBLISHING
- APA, ALA, MLA CITATION RULES
- Plagiarism Tools
Guide to United States Copyright Law as Applied to Multimedia Productions
Walker, Alice. "Copyright Law as Applied to Multimedia Productions" SUCCEED WWW Server (1995)
http://succeed.engr.vt.edu/copyinfo.html
Producers and users of multimedia programs need to be aware of, and abide by, copyright
law.
Since multimedia productions often combine text, graphics, images, animation, audio, motion video, and
computer authoring systems from a variety of sources, it would be well to know how the use of these
materials
is affected by legal constraints.
Although many books and articles have been written on the subject of copyright, some areas
have not been specifically addressed, primarily because applicable cases have not been tested in court. Much
uncertainty exists, and most areas are subject to interpretation.
The following summary is an attempt to bring together some of what is known regarding copyright as applied
to
multimedia. While not an exhaustive study, it is intended as a starting point to make producers and users
aware of the issues involved.
Public Law 94-553
U.S. copyright is federal law, originating from the U.S. Constitution (Art. 1, sec. 8, cl.
8), which provides Congress with the power "to promote science and the useful arts, by securing for
limited times to authors . . . the exclusive right to their . . . writings."
Copyright, as described in Public Law 94-553, enacted October 19, 1976, applies to
"...original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later
developed..." (cl. 102) including:
-
literary works;
-
musical works;
-
dramatic works;
-
pantomimes and choreographic works;
-
pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works;
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motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
-
sound recordings.
Public Domain
Some materials are not protected by copyright. For example, you may be able to use
materials
that are in the public domain, such as any work of the United States Government (cl. 105). You may also be
able to use works published without notice prior to the change in the law that eliminated the notice
requirement (March 1, 1989, the effective date of the Berne Convention Implementation Act, PL 100-568, 102
Stat. 2853), or works for which the copyright has expired (e.g., copyrights secured more than 75 years
ago).
Obtaining Copyright Permission
Most other works are protected by copyright, even if they do not bear a copyright notice.
(As
of March 1, 1988, use of the copyright notice is optional, but recommended.) Copyright protection comes into
being the moment the work is created in fixed form. Thus, it is up to the user to determine who owns the
copyright and to request permission for use.
Exclusive Rights
Under cl. 106 the copyright owner has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:
- to reproduce the copyrighted work,
- to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work,
- to distribute copies of the copyrighted work,
- to perform the copyrighted work publicly, and
- to display the copyrighted work publicly.
If you decide to use copyrighted material in your multimedia production, you are potentially depriving the
copyright owner of exclusive rights.
Legal Uncertainties - Patrick Lynch, from the Yale University School of Medicine, in a recent article,
states:
"If you are just using your project locally in your own classroom and have no plans to distribute your work, then few practical restrictions apply. But if you plan to distribute your project through a publisher, or even to distribute it informally without charge, you will need to make the same permission arrangements that you would make in publishing a book or professional paper. You should have a permission letter or a release form from each copyright holder in order to use his or her material in your multimedia work." (Lynch, p.24).
CONTENT PROVIDERS
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