The internet is an amazing resource for people like me, looking for just the right information or the right shot - just the right picture that can be used to illustrate an idea, feeling, or concept in my instructional materials.
But every time I find the right information or picture, I think... "Is it safe?"
WARNING!!!!
WATCH ONLY THE FIRST 20 SECONDS OF THIS VIDEO!
Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman in 'Marathon Man'
This video is used per the YouTube Terms of Service, Section 4,
General Use of the Service, Permissions and Restrictions
Can I use a picture or video snippet? Is it legal? Could I be sued? Will Dustin Hoffman's lawyers, or Sir Laurence Olivier's descendants come after me? This video is used per the YouTube Terms of Service, Section 4,
General Use of the Service, Permissions and Restrictions
No, you are right. It will be the studio that comes after me.
In the instructional materials I create, I don't use famous movies or actors, or written information. I mostly use pictures and video clips.
How do I know if I have the videographer or photographer's blessing?
The video above was uploaded from YouTube. Per section 4 of the Terms of Service, the use of the above video is permitted. Have you ever noticed YouTube's Terms of Service? No? You are not alone! You have to look for it! generally speaking, such information is located at the very bottom of websites.
At first, in ignorance, I prepared a subsection of the YouTube video - just the first 20 seconds, as that is all I wanted to show, and if memory serves, the rest of the clip could give one nightmares! Unfortunately, after reading the terms of service, I learned that I could not modify the original. How very disappointing! Ah well, I can take comfort in my being oh so within the law!
Using someone else's material without being 100% sure that I have their blessing certainly does not seem worth the potential pain if in fact I am using the material without permission. Suddenly that perfect picture that I simply had to use doesn't seem quite as important anymore!
no photo inserted here*
* I had planned to use a still photo from 'Marathon Man' that I found on line in the space above, however it said, quoted exactly: "Images may be subject to copyright." Very helpful. What exactly does that mean? They may as well just say: "This photo may or may not be OK for you to use - we just don't know. We're not even sure we should be using it." There was no other information available, so I decided to delete it.
Time for your quiz!
True or False: There is a set of legal rules that gives definitive answers to copyright questions.
You guessed it- FALSE! But as I learned, the fact that the law is not so prescriptive runs to our favor.
But what about Fair Use considerations? That is, are there exceptions to copyrights, which allows for the use of copyright material? The answer is yes!
There are some great resources that can help understand what is and is not the Fair Use.
Take a peek at the Fair Use information from Cornell University's Copyright Information Center. Cornell developed a checklist to help untangle and understand if we are stepping over the Fair Use boundary.
The best thing? Cornell is happy to help you if you don't find what you need on their site! Thanks, Cornell!
There are some great resources that can help understand what is and is not the Fair Use.
Take a peek at the Fair Use information from Cornell University's Copyright Information Center. Cornell developed a checklist to help untangle and understand if we are stepping over the Fair Use boundary.
The best thing? Cornell is happy to help you if you don't find what you need on their site! Thanks, Cornell!
