Copyright Guide for Students

Using images, video and sound in multimedia presentations

FAIR USE GUIDELINES DO NOT APPLY TO SCHOOL WEB PAGES:
DO NOT USE ANY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL ON A WEB SITE UNLESS YOU HAVE
WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER.

Pictures    /    Movie Clips    /    Audio Clips    /    Guidelines for Power Point    /    Definitions  /  Web sites
 

Think about who owns the information before you use it. 
Remember, your original creations can be copyrighted too!

When using pictures:    On the Internet you will find a mix of clip art (pictures that are available for you to use as you’d like), and pictures that are copyrighted, or owned by someone else.  If it isn’t labeled, assume that someone else owns the picture and follow these guidelines:

§         Only 5 images can be taken from one source (copied from web page or scanned from a book).

§         Cite where you found the pictures in your bibliography.

§         Free clip art sites will be labeled, such as the one below.  If it doesn't say you can use the images for free, assume that someone owns them.

 Images in the Microsoft Clip Art Gallery are always OK to use for school work.

When using movie clips:  Movie clips that you find on the Internet, tape from TV, check out from a library or have in your personal collection are copyrighted, or owned by someone else.  Free sites will be labeled.  If the movie isn't labeled, assume that someone else owns the rights to that movie and follow these guidelines:

    §         10% or a maximum of 30 seconds of a video can be included in your presentation

    §         Cite where you found the videos in your bibliography

When using audio clips:  Audio clips refer to music and sounds.  Some of these are available for free.  Free sites will be labeled.  If a site it isn’t labeled, assume that someone else owns the rights to the particular music or sound and follow these guidelines:

    §         10% or a maximum of 30 seconds can be included in your presentation

    §         Cite where you found the audio clips in your presentation

When creating a Power Point presentation:  Include the following two slides in your Power Point presentations if using any copyrighted images, video clips or audio clips: 
 

1)       Your Title Slide needs to have the following disclaimer:

 Certain materials in the presentation are included in the Fair Use exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law

2)    Your last slide is your bibliography.  It lists all the works cited in your presentation.  In addition to sources where you found text information, you should list any places where you found images, sound clips and audio clips. 

Definitions

Copyright:  Copyright is a protection provided by U.S. law to protect the rights of people who create original works. 

Public Domain:  Any work labeled as Public Domain is available for anyone to use.  Government documents and clip art are considered in the Public Domain.

Fair Use:  When using copyrighted materials for your school assignment you are able to use video, audio, text and images that would otherwise be OFF LIMITS.  Your ability to use copyrighted materials for school-work is considered Fair Use.   The U.S. courts use the following criteria to determine Fair Use:

1)     Purpose and character of the use

2)     Nature of the copyrighted work

3)     Percentage of copyrighted work used

4)     Effect of use upon the potential markets
 

Information on this page is taken from Copyright: A Guide to Information and Resources, by Gary H. Becker.  Copies of this book are available in the PHS Media Center and PHS Department Offices.       

 

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