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As a teacher, I always have questions. As a librarian, I want to be able to provide answers for the teachers. These sites were chosen because they have varying degrees of information based on the needs of the teachers.

There are sites that are simple and give the question and a brief answer. There are also sites that are geared for the more legal minded who want to know the law and not someone's interpretation of the law. These sites will be helpful when trying to teach and uphold copyright law. Frequently Asked Questions About Copyright. Frequently Asked Questions About Copyright Issues Affecting the U.S. Government CENDI/2008-1 October 8, 2008 Author, under the U.S. Copyright Law, is either the person who actually creates a copyrightable work or, if the copyrightable work is created within the scope of employment, the employer of the person who actually creates the copyrightable work. Berne Convention1 is the Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, signed at Berne, Switzerland, on September 9, 1886, and all acts, protocols, and revisions to these documents. Clearance - see Permission Collective work is a work, such as a periodical issue, anthology, or encyclopedia, in which a number of contributions, constituting separate and independent works in themselves, are assembled into a collective whole.

Copyright refers to the exclusive rights granted to an author or owner of a copyrightable work. Derivative Work refers to a work that is based on, or modifies, one or more preexisting works. U.S. The U.S. 10 Big Myths about copyright explained. See EFF notes on fair use and links from it for a detailed answer, but bear the following in mind: The "fair use" exemption to (U.S.) copyright law was created to allow things such as commentary, parody, news reporting, research and education about copyrighted works without the permission of the author.

That's vital so that copyright law doesn't block your freedom to express your own works -- only the ability to appropriate other people's. Intent, and damage to the commercial value of the work are important considerations. Are you reproducing an article from the New York Times because you needed to in order to criticise the quality of the New York Times, or because you couldn't find time to write your own story, or didn't want your readers to have to register at the New York Times web site? The first is probably fair use, the others probably aren't. Fair use is generally a short excerpt and almost always attributed. See the DMCA alert for recent changes in the law. False. False. Frequently Asked Questions. What is group registration of unpublished works? What does “GRAM” stand for? How do I register musical works (with or without lyrics) with the same application?

How do I register sound recordings with the same application? Can I register a work that was previously published as a single before it was published on the album? How do I register photographs, artwork, or liner notes with the same application? What’s the difference between a “musical work” and a “sound recording”? Can I register a musical work (with or without lyrics) and sound recordings with the same group registration application? Can I register musical works (with or without lyrics), photographs, artwork, and liner notes with the same application? Where can I learn about this group registration option? When did this change go into effect? When was this change announced? Do I need to submit my claim through the electronic registration system?

Where do I find information about the online registration system? What is a collective work? Bb%20copyright_fair_use.pdf. EFF: Fair Use FAQ. Last updated: 6:00pm PST, 2002-03-21 » More in depth information about Fair Use issues can be found at Chilling Effects 1. What is Fair Use? In essence, fair use is a limitation on the exclusive rights of copyright holders. 2. Copyright law embodies a bargain: Congress gave copyright holders a set of six exclusive rights for a limited time period, and gave to the public all remaining rights in creative works.

The public's right to make fair use of copyrighted works is a long-established and integral part of US copyright law. 3. There are no clear-cut rules for deciding what's fair use and there are no "automatic" classes of fair uses. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes -- Courts are more likely to find fair use where the use is for noncommercial purposes. 4. Courts have previously found that a use was fair where the use of the copyrighted work was socially beneficial. 5. 6. Fair Use Frequently Asked Questions | Center for Media & Social Impact. By Pat Aufderheide, Peter Jaszi, Maura Ugarte and Michael Miller If I want to use something under fair use, do I have to ask permission, give credit, or use a disclaimer? What is the appropriate length of a clip to fair use? I heard that if you use ten percent of the original length then it's okay.

Does it matter if you are a non-profit organization vs. a commercial organization? Isn’t there some material that isn’t copyrighted out there? What is the public domain? What about Creative Commons? What about trademark? Isn't fair use just stealing? Has the Statement ever been used in court? I want to use footage, but don't have access to it. Does fair use apply to still photos, book covers, newspapers, and other non-film items? Does the Filmmakers' Statement of Best Practices apply to fiction film? How does fair use work internationally? How does fair use apply to release forms and all that stuff? You do not have to ask permission or alert the copyright holder when employing fair use. Fair Use Frequently Asked Questions | Teaching Copyright. What is fair use? The Copyright Act gives copyright holders the exclusive right to reproduce works for a limited time period.

Fair use is a limitation on this right. Fair use allows people other than the copyright owner to copy part or, in some circumstances, all of a copyrighted work, even where the copyright holder has not given permission or objects. How does fair use fit with copyright law? Copyright law embodies a bargain. It gives copyright holders a set of exclusive rights for a limited time period as an incentive to create works that ultimately enrich society as a whole. In exchange for this limited monopoly, creators enrich society by, hopefully, contributing to the growth of science, education and the arts. However, copyright law does not give copyright holders complete control of their works. How does the court know if a use is fair? Whether a use is fair will depend on the specific facts of the use. These factors are guidelines, and they are not exclusive.