Copyright Angst - Senior Videos

Yesterday, we had a school-wide assembly to view the much-anticipated senior video. We're talking small-school, baby pictures + senior pictures, growing up headshots of selected groups, sports, activities, accompanied by popular songs of the day. Sometimes a techno-savvy student will complete the video; sometimes a studio is selected to create it.

I always have questions from students and teachers alike - are these videos "legal?" I have questions myself.

This year a local studio created the video. The first screen displayed an anti-piracy copyright protection screen. Next, the video starts with 1) popular songs and 2) senior pictures from other local studios. Even if this fell under Educational Fair Use, the following guidelines would have to be followed, at least for the songs:

a. Use 10% of a song, not to exceed 30 seconds,
and do not show the finished video out of the classroom.
Do not duplicate, distribute, broadcast, webcast or sell it.

b. Proper attribution must be given when using copyrighted materials. i.e.
"I Am Your Child" written by Barry Manilow/Martin Panzer.
BMG Music/SwanneeBravo Music.

c. The opening screen of the project must include a notice that "certain materials are included under the fair use exemption and have been used according to the multimedia fair use guidelines".

d. Your fair use of material ends when the project creator (student or teacher) loses control of the project's use: e.g. when it is distributed, copied or broadcast.

Unfortunately, NONE of these guidelines were followed. And, I hesitate to even suggest that it could fall under Educational Fair Use. The senior video was not a class project, was not an educational tool,was not a tool for critique. It was duplicated, distributed, and, I believe, sold.

How do I teach our students about obeying copyright laws if copyright infringement is so casually committed in our society?

One can find copyright-free or creative commons images, which also includes links for music as well.
The Annick LIVEbrary Blog: Copyright- and Hassle-Free Images