Digital Storytelling Resources: Copyright

Everything you ever wanted to know about copyright and were afraid to ask. Make sure you check out the Fair Use check list.

There are a lot of different issues involved in figuring out if copyright requires you to seek permission (and often, pay a fee) for some use you'd like to make, or if copyright allows you to make the use without permission. The map and outline below may help guide you through the thought process.

Be sure that all components of your video are your original creation—even the audio portion. For example, if you use an audio track of a sound recording owned by a record label without that record label's permission, your video may be infringing the copyrights of others, and may be subject to removal.YouTube offers a library of authorized music to liven up your video.

Copyright laws are complex and can be very confusing! Is a work in the public domain? Do you need permission to use it? When does copyright expire? Find these answers and more at your fingertips with this handy,digital Copyright Slider designed by Michael Brewer, OITP Copyright Advisory Committee member, and published by the Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP).

EFF's Teaching Copyright curriculum was created to help teachers present the laws surrounding digital rights in a balanced way.

"The Center for Media & Social Impact has created a set of teaching tools for professors who are interested in teaching their students about fair use."

From the Center for Media & Social Impact at the American University School of Communication

Why Was my Youtube Movie removed? A guide produced by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Fun video from Lumpy and Russell that teaches Youtube copyright rules. Video produced by Youtube.

General Overview of Copyright and Fair Use.