Fair Use
Copyright law does not provide a blanket exception from liability for college students
based solely upon their status as students. There are limited circumstances where use of
copyrighted materials without permission is allowable. One of these circumstances is
under the legal doctrine of “fair use,” such as for purposes of news reporting, criticism,
commentary, or teaching. Whether use of copyrighted material without permission is
“fair use” depends on a very detailed, case-by-case analysis of various factors. For a
better understanding of these factors, please visit the U.S. Library of Congress website,
copyright.gov
.
There Is an Alternative: Legal Downloading
When you buy music or movies online or buy a CD or DVD, it is important to understand
the answers to the following questions:
What permissions come with the product? These range from very broad Creative
Commons permissions, which allow for redistribution under certain conditions, to
very restrictive requirements, which allow play on only one machine, or allow only
streaming, etc. It is incumbent upon you to understand the permissions.
What digital restrictions, if any, are used with the product? Many services use digital
rights management (DRM) technology to control the use of the music or other digital
works they sell. DRM usually reflects the permissions and can range from allowing
unlimited burns to CD to preventing any copying at all. DRM models can also limit
what kind of devices you can play the music on. DRM with a subscription-based model
may render the music unplayable if the subscription is not maintained. Some services
do not use DRM.
In conclusion, please be aware that sharing music, videos, software, and other
copyrighted material may be a violation of law. You and those with whom you share
materials, could be exposed to civil and criminal penalties. Please use copyrighted
materials responsibly and in accordance with the law.
201
