Barnstable, Janet. threadingthefilm.jpg. 12/12/02. Pics4Learning. 30 Jul 2004 <http://pics.tech4learning.com>
You have
just finished your first full length film, and it got great reviews at
the Sundance Film Festival. It may never make it to the regular movie
theaters, but it will bring in enough money to pay off your actors, set
designers, costume makers, and the rental fees on your equipment.
You are finally done working and working for no recognition; this may
be the beginning of your life as a famous film maker. Now you
can easily get the funding you need to start your first film.
There is something bothering you, though. While surfing the Net you came across an amateur website that showed long clips of your film and never asked your permission or even gave you any credit. You want to get a lawyer, but you aren't sure if you have any rights. Now you have an email from some kids in Maine who are making a multimedia presentation for their drama class. They want to use parts of your film in their presentation. It is great that they bothered to ask, but you aren't sure what to say. Is it different from what you saw on the website? Some of your buddies down at the Artists for Art support group are just as confused. You need some answers!
Use these sites below to find the answers to your questions. Then, take what you find to the next meeting of Artists Protecting Art.
Great General Information, Vocabulary, and a Quiz - Find Out What You Know (http://www.copyrightkids.org/)
Basic Answers to Simple Questions (http://www.cyberbee.com/cb_copyright.swf)
Copyright and Fair Use (http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter7/7-c.html)
Examples of Copyright Cases (http://www.benedict.com/)
Myths of Copyright and Fair Use (http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html)
What Teachers Need to Know about Fair Use and a Great Chart (http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm#EXAMPLES%20OF%20WORKS)
News Article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/21/PIRACY.TMP)
There is something bothering you, though. While surfing the Net you came across an amateur website that showed long clips of your film and never asked your permission or even gave you any credit. You want to get a lawyer, but you aren't sure if you have any rights. Now you have an email from some kids in Maine who are making a multimedia presentation for their drama class. They want to use parts of your film in their presentation. It is great that they bothered to ask, but you aren't sure what to say. Is it different from what you saw on the website? Some of your buddies down at the Artists for Art support group are just as confused. You need some answers!
1. Can you say "No!" to these kids, or do they have some sort of
rights to use your film without your permission?
2. How much of your film can they use? A small clip? Several short clips? A whole scene?
3. What are they allowed to do with this multimedia presentation once they've made it? Can they burn lots of disks and sell them? Give them away? Post them on the Web?
4. Can they take part of your film and add some digital media to it that changes it? Merge it with another movie? Make fun of it? Dub other sound over it so your characters are saying completely different things??
5. Do they have to put your name on it or can they just use it and never mention you at all?
6. Is there a time limit on how long they can keep the presentation or your clips? Do your clips become their property - do they own them?
7. If the kids in school can do stuff with your film at school, can everybody else do the same thing? Are there different laws for different uses? If the kids go home, can they continue to use that presentation any way they like for entertainment?
2. How much of your film can they use? A small clip? Several short clips? A whole scene?
3. What are they allowed to do with this multimedia presentation once they've made it? Can they burn lots of disks and sell them? Give them away? Post them on the Web?
4. Can they take part of your film and add some digital media to it that changes it? Merge it with another movie? Make fun of it? Dub other sound over it so your characters are saying completely different things??
5. Do they have to put your name on it or can they just use it and never mention you at all?
6. Is there a time limit on how long they can keep the presentation or your clips? Do your clips become their property - do they own them?
7. If the kids in school can do stuff with your film at school, can everybody else do the same thing? Are there different laws for different uses? If the kids go home, can they continue to use that presentation any way they like for entertainment?
Use these sites below to find the answers to your questions. Then, take what you find to the next meeting of Artists Protecting Art.
Great General Information, Vocabulary, and a Quiz - Find Out What You Know (http://www.copyrightkids.org/)
Basic Answers to Simple Questions (http://www.cyberbee.com/cb_copyright.swf)
Copyright and Fair Use (http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter7/7-c.html)
Examples of Copyright Cases (http://www.benedict.com/)
Myths of Copyright and Fair Use (http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html)
What Teachers Need to Know about Fair Use and a Great Chart (http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm#EXAMPLES%20OF%20WORKS)
News Article (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/21/PIRACY.TMP)