Please don't panic! I am not about to tell you that you can never show a movie again, please keep reading.
At our professional development meetings in August, a handout was shared with guidelines for using copyrighted materials in the classroom. It was my intention to present this information to you live so you could ask questions. Since I wasn't able do this, here is some of what would have been presented.
Copyright Basics: Anything created by someone is copyrighted and in general, can only be reproduced with permission from the creator. Educators get a bit of a break on seeking permission under the "Fair Use" guidelines. They do not, however, get a free rein to copy or use anything they desire at all times of the year.
What does this look like in your classroom? How does this pertain to you? Here are some highlights:
- Printed materials that are short (like a poem), can be copied from a legally obtained original. One copy per student in your class is allowed, no extras. This may be done 9 times/year for each teacher.
- Printed materials that are long may be copied one time for archival purposes. This copy must include the copyright information. Copies of this nature are usually only made by a librarian in an attempt to keep a copy of materials in case of loss or destruction.
- Video use for student viewing is allowed if you have a legally obtained copy (purchased or rented), used in a classroom environment that is "dedicated to face-to-face instruction," and if it is instructional in nature. Videos may not be used for entertainment or rewards. If you want to show a video for entertainment or reward purposes, a one time site license must be purchased. Here "one time" refers to showing the movie only once, not purchasing the license only once. The last time I checked, this cost about $100 per license.
- Video and music use in student and staff projects is allowed, but limited to 10% or 30 seconds of a piece, whichever is smaller. These multi-media projects must have an educational purpose (for example, not a copy of the Talent Show or 8th Grade Celebration).
Carrie
