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Academics & Copyright: Media

The information in this guide has been gathered from the American Library Association, Library of Congress, United States Copyright Office, Copyright Clearance Center, Miami Dade College, and Columbia University Library.

Media is Protected Too!

Copyright protects text and pictures on websites just like books, CDs, DVDs, and works in other media. You might not see a copyright notice on a website, but that doesn't mean you're free to copy what you see or hear. See page 2 of PDF file on Copyright Registration for Works of Visual Arts.

Illustrations and Photographs

For educational uses of illustrations and photographs, while applying fair use, they may be used in its entirety but no more than 5 images by an artist or photographer may be reproduced or otherwise incorporated as part of an educational multimedia project. When using photographs and illustrations from a published collective work, not more than 10% or 15 images, whichever is less, may be reproduced or otherwise incorporated as part of an educational multimedia project.

Videos and Movies

If the movie is for entertainment purposes, you need to get a clearance or license for its performance. It is not necessary to obtain permission if you show the movie in the course of face-to-face teaching activities in a nonprofit educational institution, in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction, if the copy of the movie being performed is a lawful copy. 17 U.S.C. section 110(1). This exemption encompasses instructional activities relating to a wide variety of subjects, but it does not include performances for recreation or entertainment purposes, even if there is cultural value or intellectual appeal.

For additional information on Video and Copyright, see the American Library Association.

 

Music

For information on educational uses of music, please read pages 7 and 8 of this PDF file on Reproduction of Copyrighted Works.