Fair Use

• Fair Use:

Author: Columbia University Libraries
Year Created: 2011

Columbia University begins their explanation of fair use emphasizing its importance to educators and researchers.  Underneath of this, there are links to other Columbia University Libraries resources, which work to explore the topic in a more detail. For example, the “What is Fair Use” section provides an in-depth explanation of the four components fair use is based upon.  On top of this, there is a link to a fair use checklist. The checklist is a PDF document consisting of a table which illustrates what can be considered favor fair use and what cannot. Furthermore, on the host page an individual can find scenarios and legal case summaries reflecting application of fair use.

• Copyright Exceptions

Author: Purdue University Copyright Office
Year Created: 2009

The title of this page reveals what Purdue University Copyright Office believes fair use is: an exception to copyright laws. To help individuals better understand this exception, the Copyright Office created a table divided into four sections. The table specifies that if one of the four fair use components is ignored, the certainty of legal fulfillment is deluded. Below this table, each of the four categories is further explored, revealing explicit details relating to copyright. Complementing this written information in each section is a table separated into three columns. The table is broken down into categories meant to clarify what acts fall within or outside of fair use and determining factors that could influence this classification. On the bottom of this page there is yet another table an individual can go through to get an approximate idea if their cumulative acts would be constituted fair use.

• Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video

Author: Center of Social Media
Year Created: 2011

Before getting into a discussion on how fair use can be applied to online videos, the Center of Social Media provides their own video addressing the topic of fair use.  After the video, there is written text directly stating that this page is not intended to explain the limits of fair use, but rather specify best practices when applying it to video.  Six different applications of online video are then laid out and explained . The categories addressed are:

-Commenting or Critiquing a Copyrighted Work

-Using Copyrighted Material for Illustration or Examples

-Capturing Copyrighted Material Incidentally or Accidentally

-Reproducing, Reposting, Quoting, to Memorialize, Preserve, Rescue and Experience, An Event of Cultural Phenomenon

-Copying, Reposting and Recirculating a Work or Part of a Work for Purposes of Launching a Discussion

-Quoting in Order to Recombine Elements to Make a New Work that Depends for its Meaning on Relationships between the Elements

Each of these categories features a description section that explains how the this area of video is most commonly applied, what best practice would be, and the extent a item can be sampled before is extends beyond fair use. The page is concluded with a list of common myths relating to fair use.

http://blip.tv/center-for-social-media/remix-culture-fair-use-is-your-friend-2091622

• A Fair(y) Use Tale

Author: Eric Faden
Year Created: 2006

On this webpage, individuals can download, stream, or watch a YouTube Eric Faden ‘s video commenting on copyright law and fair use. Faden’s composition is the product of several Disney films that have been trimmed to form precise sound bites. Together, these pieces work together to form a congruent narrative highlighting the restrictive nature of copyrighted work and the role of fair use. Faden’s work is divided into five chapters which progressively work to build viewers’ understanding of how this law may apply to them . The entire video is approximately ten minutes long.

• Fair Use Simply Explained

Authors: Dr. Vivian Wright and Dr. Susan Lucas
Year Created: Not Specified

On this webpage, an individual can receive both brief and in-depth analysis in relation to fair use and copyright. The page is mainly composed of four questions, each of which addresses one of the main components of fair use.  If an individual chooses to receive more information on the topic, they may select to “read more” and be led to a more complete explanation of how to apply fair use.  There are also links to guidelines that work to help educators determine if their acts fall within fair use.  Further exploration of the host website can provide additional insight, such as education based copyright scenarios and myths that are commonly attached to copyright law.