The Copyright Tightrope
Dec 24, 2015
Albrecht DurerGerman Artist 1471-1528
Hold! You crafty ones, strangers to work, and pilferers of other men’s brains……
Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka
Mark TwainAmerican Author 1835-1910
Only one thing is impossible for God; to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet. Mark Twains Notebook, 1902-1903
Big copyright picture:2 conflicting ideas – 2 conflicting parties
Party A = Education Party B= Publishers, et. al.
United States ConstitutionArticled 1, Section 8, Clause 8
To promote the progress of Science and the Useful Arts, by securing for a limited time to
Authors and Inventors the exclusive right to their respective writing and discoveries
Guidance and Training
17 USC § 107
Georgia Board of Regents
Other Universities = General Consensus= informed advice
on compliance questions
In order to strike a balance between parties we have to comply with the law according to 17 US Code§ 107, while at the same time exercising through a good faith effort our fair
use rights.
Goal is to balance
“Using fair use takes the PAIN out of copyright compliance”
FOUR FACTORS
Purpose and Character of UseAmount/substantiality of
the workImpact on the potential marketNature of copyrighted work
used
Fair Use ChecklistFour Factors
Factor 1: Purpose and character of use
Check the applicable boxes Education, non-profit Teaching, criticism, parody Non-commercial Transformative Necessary to achieve
educational goal
Weights in favor of fair use
Check the applicable boxes For profit For public distribution For entertainment Mirror Image Copying Use exceeds what is necessary
for teaching purposes
Weights against fair use
Faculty
Faculty should keep a copy of the fair use checklist that they fill out for each and every individual title they evaluate and
use, and it should be dated.
BECAUSE
This checklist provides evidence of a good faith effort in deciding for or
against fair use.
Public Domain
If it’s in the fridge it is in the public domain.
Facts Recipes Ideas Dedicated works Government docs
Expired copyright
I hope I have given you enough information that you will feel confident when it comes your turn to walk the tightrope, balancing progress on one side
and limits on the other!
…..with a new clarity and vision to “promote the progress of Science and the Useful Arts…
…………as it is our right as educators through the fair use exception!