Fair Use Notice Certain materials in this presentation are included under the fair use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law exemption and have been prepared according to the multimedia fair use guidelines and are restricted from further use.

Know Thy Copyright Rules!

What is Copyright?

Copyright law in the United States is embodied in federal laws enacted by Congress. The current copyright law, the Copyright Act of 1976 (as amended), is codified in Title 17 of the U.S. Code.

What is protected?   Copyright protects "original works of authorship" that are Fixed in "a tangible form of expression." The fixed form does not have to be directly perceptible so long as it can be communicated with the aid of a machine or other device. Copyrightable works fall into the following categories: -                      literary works (which includes computer software); -                      musical works, including any accompanying words; -                      dramatic works, including any accompanying music ; -                      pantomimes and choreographic works; -                      pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works; -                      motion pictures and other audiovisual works; -                      sound recordings; and -                      architectural works.

What is Fair Use? The exclusive rights of the copyright owner are not unlimited. The copyright law establishes some limitations on these rights. One of the most important limitations on the exclusive rights is the doctrine of "Fair Use." The "Fair Use" doctrine allows limited copying of copyrighted works for educational and research purposes. The copyright law provides that reproduction "for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research" is not an infringement of copyright.

Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for School Projects

Pictures and Illustrations * You can use one but no more than five by the same photographer or illustrator without the permission of the creator. To use more, you need to ask permission. You must include a bibliography of any work you use.

Music * You can use up to 10% of a song or musical work in a presentation or 30 seconds. If the song is 90 seconds, you can only use 9 seconds. To use more, you need to ask permission. You must include a bibliography of any work you use.

Video * You can use up to 10% or up to 3 minutes (whichever is less) of copyrighted videotapes, DVDs, etc. To use more, you need to ask permission. You must include a bibliography of any work you use.

Text Materials You can use: A poem with less than 250 words. Up to 250 words from a poem greater than 2,500 words. Articles, stories, or essays less than 2,500 words. Part of a longer work: 10% of the work or 1,000 words. One chart, picture, diagram, graph, cartoon or picture per book, encyclopedia, newspaper, or magazine. Two pages from a picture book with less than 2,500 words. To use more, you need to ask permission. You must include a bibliography of any work you use.

Bibliography "Annual License to Show Multiple Movies | Public Performance Site License | School Movie Night." Show Movies In Your School or Library Legally | Performance Licensing. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://www.movlic.com/k12/license.html>. Schrock, Kathy. "Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for School Projects." Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <kathyschrock.net/pdf/copyright_schrock.pdf>. Simpson, Carol Mann. Copyright For Schools: A Practical Guide. 4th ed. Worthington: Linworth Publishing, 2008. Print. "Taking the Mystery Out of Copyright (Library of Congress)." Library of Congress Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://www.loc.gov/teachers/copyrightmystery/#>. "Welcome To The FACE Kids Site." Welcome To The FACE Kids Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2010. <http://www.copyrightkids.org/>. MLA formatting by BibMe.org.