HCPS Copyright

Kids love video. It can be a great way to make a point or really illustrate a concept in a way that no other media can. Video is also one of the more confusing types of media in terms of what you can use while still abiding by the terms of the copyright.

Before applying the guidelines below, ask yourself these two simple questions.

1. Is this video part of face-to-face instruction in my classroom?
2. Does this video match the unit I’m covering right now? Is it timely?

If you answered “no” to either question then you cannot use the video in your classroom. If you answered “yes” to both those questions you can now move down to the fairly complex guidelines below.

You can always use -

• ALL videos you create (with proper release from participants in the video)
• ALL videos in the public domain
• ALL videos from sources that permit educational use as stated in their conditions of use

So we’ve got an all green section for virtually any type of use. Now we’ll get into details regarding what you can show in your classroom, on the web and in VirtualShare.

In Your Classroom or Restricted Website

This is basically for restricted viewing. You’re not showing this to the whole world. It’s restricted by password or by physical proximity to your class.

You can always use -

• You can tape daily newscasts (does not include documentary or magazine news programming) from standard channels from school or home; use 45-day rule
• You CAN use a video or DVD borrowed from a library or video rental service.

You can probably use-

• You can tape Cable in the Classroom programming from school or home, but you must follow the individual network’s regulations for usage
• You may make a copy if you own the item and the original copy is in a format that is obsolete and not available for resale in another format (ex. the tape you own is beta, no longer used)
• You may tape a program at the REQUEST of a fellow educator.
• Programs broadcast by satellite may be taped for school use with permission of the copyright holder.

You can NEVER use -

• Do not use an item taped from a premium channel UNLESS you follow the specific program guidelines from the network.
• You may not tape a program in anticipation of a need.
• You cannot alter the video.

Websites and Public Display

Websites and public video display are very similar as neither is limited to just your class or school. To the copyright police it’s like showing the video to the whole world.

You can always use -

• Videos made by yourself; used with permission of the participants
• Videos downloaded from the internet with permission from the copyright holder
• Three minutes or 10% of video clip in a multimedia face-to-face presentation.

You can probably use-

• You may be able to show a legally-owned copy of a video in a public, non-profit setting (e.g. for children to watch while parents attend a PTA meeting) if you pay for a license to do so.

You can NEVER use -

• You cannot alter a video by taking all or part of it to use in another work
• Nothing can be used on a web site from commercial video or television without permission
• No public performance without a paid license
• You cannot charge admission to show a video because that would require a commercial public performance license
• You cannot change a work from one format to another–this is an adaptation

Multimedia

Creating one product that uses music, pictures, and video really isn’t some magical different category. If you follow the rules for other categories of media when mixing them to create multimedia you’ll be fine.

Image credit Wise Acre