Journal Article for Classroom Use
SCENARIO 1: A professor copies one article from a periodical for distribution to the class.
FAIR USE? Yes. Distribution of multiple copies for classroom use is fair use. However, the repeated use of a copyrighted work, from term-to-term, requires more scrutiny in a fair use evaluation. Repeated use, as well as a large class size, may weigh against fair use.
Posting Copyrighted Article to Web Page
SCENARIO 2: A professor has posted his class notes on a web page available to the public. He wants to scan an article from a copyrighted journal and add it to his web page.
FAIR USE? No, if access is open to the public, then this use is probably not a fair use. No exclusively educational purpose can be guaranteed by putting the article on the web, and such conduct would arguably violate the copyright holder's right of public distribution. If access to the web page is restricted, then it is more likely to be fair use.
Coursepacks
SCENARIO 3: A professor copies excerpts of documents, including copyrighted text books and journals, from various sources. The professor plans to distribute the materials to his class as a coursepack.
FAIR USE? Generally speaking, you need to obtain permission before reproducing copyrighted materials for an academic coursepack. It's the instructor's obligation to obtain clearance for materials used in class. Instructors typically delegate this task to one of the following: clearance services, university bookstores or copy shops, or Department administration.
Textbooks
SCENARIO 5: A professor wishes to use a textbook he considers to be too expensive. He makes copies of the book for the class.
FAIR USE? No. Although the use is educational, the professor is using the entire work, and by providing copies of the entire book to his students, he has affected the market. This conduct clearly interferes with the marketing monopoly of the copyright owner. The professor should place a copy on reserve or require the students to purchase the book.
SCENARIO 6: A professor decides to make three copies of a textbook and place them on reserve in the library for the class.
FAIR USE? No. This conduct still interferes with the marketing monopoly of the copyright owner. The professor may place a copy of the textbook, not the copies, on reserve.
Public Domain Materials
SCENARIO 7: A teacher copies a Shakespearian play from a copyrighted anthology.
FAIR USE? Yes. The play is in the public domain and not subject to copyright protection.
Unpublished Letters
SCENARIO 8:A professor of psychology desires to edit and publish a collection of unpublished letters in the library archives.
FAIR USE? The answer to this scenario requires further information. Has the copyright protection expired? Are the letters subject to any agreement the library made with the donor? Can the author or authors of the letters be located? Is the library agreeable to publication? This is the type of problem that requires a detailed legal and factual analysis. One should consult the institution's office of legal affairs for advice.
Journal Article for Personal Use
SCENARIO 9: A professor wishes to make a copy of an article from a copyrighted periodical for her files to use later.
FAIR USE? Yes. This is a classic example of personal fair use so long as the professor uses the article for her personal files and reference.
Out-of-Print-Book
SCENARIO 10: A library has a book that is out of print and unavailable. The book is an important one in the professor's field that she needs for her research. The professor would like to copy the book for her files.
FAIR USE? Yes. This is another example of personal use. If one engages in the fair use analysis, one finds that: (1) the purpose of the use is educational versus commercial; (2) the professor is using the book, a creative work, for research purposes; (3) copying the entire book would normally exceed the bounds of fair use, however, since the book is out of print and no longer available from any other source, the copying is acceptable; (4) finally, the copying will have no impact on the market for the book because the book is no longer available from any other source.
SCENERIO 11: Using the same facts as explained in SCENARIO 10 could the professor copy the book and place the book on reserve in the library? Could the professor scan the book into her computer and place the book onto the World Wide Web?
FAIR USE? If the professor placed the book on reserve in the library, the use would be considered a fair use. However, if the professor placed the book on the Web, then the use is not a fair use. Placement on the Web allows unlimited access to the book. This would affect the copyright holder's public distribution of the book.
Showing a Videotape for Classroom Instruction
SCENARIO 12: A teacher wishes to show a copyrighted motion picture to her class for instructional purposes.
FAIR USE? Yes, since it is for classroom instruction and no admission fee is charged. Tuition and course fees do not constitute admission fees.
Copying a Videotape for Classroom Instruction
SCENARIO 13: A teacher makes a copy of the videotape described in SCENARIO 12 for a colleague to show in her class at the same time.
FAIR USE? No. The teacher may lend her personal copy of the videotape to a colleague for this purpose.
Renting a Video That Is in the Public Domain for Non-classroom Use
SCENARIO 14: A professor wishes to raise funds for a scholarship. She rents a video of a motion picture on which the copyright has expired and charges admission fees.
FAIR USE? Yes. The copyright of the motion picture has expired, which places the motion picture in the public domain.
Renting a Video That Is Copyright-Protected for Non-classroom Use
SCENARIO 15: The facts are the same as those in SCENARIO 14 except that the movie is protected by copyright.
FAIR USE? No, because it infringes the copyright owner's right to market the work.
Class Viewing of a Film Online
SCENARIO 16: The facts are the same as those in SCENARIO 13 except a video recording under copyright is digitized and made available online. See ALA Film in a Classroom, University of Michigan Library guidelines, and University of Texas Copyright Checklist below for more guidance.
FAIR USE? Depends - copyrighted video related to the classroom lessons can be digitized and made available online under certain circumstances. These include the typical requirements for online use of copyright materials (e.g. accessible only to students currently enrolled in the class), but also have some additional restrictions. In particular, the copy must be lawful (e.g. not an illegal copy), and while non-dramatic videos can generally made available online for class-related purposes, the restrictions are tighter on dramatic works (including plays, movies, operas, and music videos) and may be limited to less substantial portions (clips instead of the entire video).
Classroom Presentation
SCENARIO 16: A teacher or student prepares and gives a presentation that displays photographs. Permission was not obtained to use the photographs.
FAIR USE? Yes. The copyright fair use provision explicitly provides for classroom use of copyrighted material. Instructors and students may perform and display their own educational projects or presentations for instruction.
Electronic Transmission or Broadcast of Classroom Presentation
What if the presentation incorporating the photographs discussed in SCENARIO 16 is broadcast to a distant classroom?
FAIR USE? Yes. This use would be considered fair use, as long as the presentation is broadcast for remote instruction.
Broadcast of Classroom Presentation to Home or Office
What if the presentation discussed in SCENARIO 16 is broadcast to students at their homes or offices?
FAIR USE? Yes. This use would be considered fair use if the individuals are enrolled in a course and viewing the presentation for purposes of criticism, comment, teaching or instruction, scholarship, or research.
Recording of Classroom Presentation
What if the teacher's or student's presentation explained in SCENARIO 16 is recorded?
FAIR USE? Yes. This use would be considered fair use, if the recording is used for educational purposes such as student review or if the recording is for instruction.
Broadcast of Recorded Classroom Presentation
What if the SCENARIO 16 presentation incorporating the photographs is recorded and rebroadcast? Is this a fair use?
FAIR USE? Yes. The use of the photographs is fair use as long as the presentation is recorded and rebroadcast only for instruction.
Incorporation of Photographs in an Electronic Presentation (Excluding the Internet)
What if the SCENARIO 16 presentation is included in an electronic presentation such as Microsoft's PowerPoint?
FAIR USE? Yes. This should be considered fair use as long as the electronic presentation is for educational or instructional use.
Making Changes to Photographs
What if the student or teacher were to change the attributes of the pictures discussed in SCENARIO 16?
FAIR USE? Yes. This would be considered fair use for education, comment, criticism, or parody. One must inform the audience that changes were made to the photographer's copyrighted work.
Use of Copyrighted Music
SCENARIO 17: A teacher or student creates a presentation and incorporates copyrighted music into the background. Assume that permission was not obtained to use the music for the presentation.Can the music be included in the teacher's or student's initial presentation?
FAIR USE? Yes. This is fair use if instruction is occurring.
Use of Music Over Two-Way Interactive Video (GSAMS)
Same facts as SCENARIO 17. The presentation is broadcast to a distant classroom using two-way interactive video (GSAMS).
FAIR USE? Yes. The use of interactive video for educational instruction is considered a fair use.
Use of Music in Recorded Classroom Presentation
What if the teacher's or student's presentation described in SCENARIO 17 is recorded?
FAIR USE? Yes. This is fair use if instruction is occurring.
Use of Music in Broadcast of Recorded Classroom Presentation
What if the SCENARIO 17 presentation is recorded and rebroadcast?
FAIR USE? The answer is not clear. If instruction is occurring and there are no admission charges to the rebroadcast, the presumption is that it may be fair use. Tuition and course fees do not constitute admission fees.
Use of Music in an Electronic Presentation (Excluding the Internet)
What if the SCENARIO 17 presentation is included in an electronic presentation (excluding the Internet)?
FAIR USE? Yes. This is fair use if instruction is occurring.
Use of Music as Content in a Classroom Presentation
SCENARIO 18: A professor teaches an opera course, and the professor creates a presentation. The presentation contains the works of ten contemporary artists and is presented to a new class every semester.
FAIR USE? Yes, as long as the use of the presentation continues to be for instruction.
Use of Music in Classroom Presentations on the Internet
The opera classroom presentation (SCENARIO 18) or the presentation containing background music (SCENARIO 17) is placed on the Internet?
FAIR USE? Yes, so long as access is restricted, e.g., by use of a password or PIN or other means.
Recording of Distance Learning Course
SCENARIO 19: Institution A creates a distance learning course. The course contains copyrighted text, video, audio, and photographs relevant to the class. If Institution A did not obtain permission to use the copyrighted materials, can Institution A show the recording of the distance learning course to students who have signed up for a distance learning course at Institution A?
FAIR USE? Yes. Most experts believe that showing the recording to students enrolled in the distance learning course is a fair use.
Recording of Distance Learning Course Shown at Other Institutions
Assume same facts as in SCENARIO 19. If Institution A did not obtain permission to use the copyrighted materials, can students at Institution B enroll and receive credit for the course at Institution B?
FAIR USE? Yes. Most experts believe that showing the recording to students enrolled in the distance learning course is a fair use.
Distance Learning Course via the Internet
Assume same facts as in SCENARIO 19. What if the distance learning course is transmitted via the Internet?
FAIR USE? If the distance learning course is broadcast and there is open access, the audience is no longer clearly defined. A rebroadcast over the Internet to a global audience is probably not a fair use. A restricted broadcast of the distance learning course is a fair use.
Remote Access of Searchable Database via the Internet
SCENARIO 20: A faculty member at Institution C creates a searchable database of copyrighted materials. The database is used as a part of a distance learning course and is available on the institution's web server. Students enrolled in the course access the course materials from home, work, and other areas that are not traditional classrooms. Access to the database is controlled and available only to students enrolled in the class. The faculty member did not obtain permission to use the copyrighted materials.
FAIR USE? Yes. So long as the materials are being accessed for educational instruction and access remains controlled.
Student Project for Distribution on the Internet
SCENARIO 21: A student is taking a distance learning class in which the instructor has required that a particular assignment be created for unlimited distribution on the web. A student includes an audio segment of copyrighted music (video, news broadcast, non-dramatic literary work).
FAIR USE? No. Since the teacher specifically stated that the project is being created for distribution over the web, this is not a fair use of any of the listed copyrighted materials and permission should be obtained.
Student Project on the Internet with Restricted Access
Same facts as SCENARIO 21, however, access to each student's Web page will be restricted to other students in the class.
FAIR USE? Yes.
Use of Commercial Video
SCENARIO 22: An instructor is teaching a class delivered on cable television or via two-way interactive video (GSAMS), and she uses a commercial video (either in its entirely or a portion), which is sold for instructional purposes, during a class to illustrate a concept covered in the discussion.
FAIR USE? Yes. She is using a commercial video for its intended purpose. Moreover, it is being used to illustrate a concept connected with the class discussion.
Same facts as SCENARIO 22, but the class is distributed over the Internet.
FAIR USE? This is a fair use only if access over the Internet is restricted.
Same facts as SCENARIO 22, but the video is not "educational" in orientation.
FAIR USE? Distribution over two-way interactive video or cable television controlled by the institution would be fair use, as would restricted distribution over the Internet. Unrestricted distribution over the Internet is not a fair use.
Taping On-Air Programming
SCENARIO 23: A faculty member records a segment from a television program. The segment will be shown in a GSAMS class the following day. The remote sites will record the class in the event of technical difficulties.
FAIR USE? Yes.
Retention of Tape of On-Air Programming
Assume there are technical difficulties in SCENARIO 23 and the remote sites replay the tape containing the program segment.
FAIR USE? Yes. The use is for instructional purposes.
Retention of Video of Copyrighted Material
SCENARIO 24: Institution E records a two-way interactive video (GSAMS) class that contains copyrighted works. The tapes are kept for the entire quarter to serve as review for students who may have missed a class or as backup in the event of technical difficulties. At the end of the term, the tapes are erased.
FAIR USE? Yes.
Use of a Video of a GSAMS Class Containing Copyrighted Material
What if the professor who conducted the class in SCENARIO 24 decides to show the tape to her continuing education class (or to a community group)?
FAIR USE? Yes, showing the tapes to her continuing education class is fair use if she is using the material for educational purposes and no admission fee is charged. Showing the tape to a community group may or may not be a fair use. The fact that the user of the tapes is a professor does not make the showing of the tape to a community group an educational use. One would need to conduct a fair use analysis.
Rebroadcast of a Video of a Two-Way Interactive Video (GSAMS) Class Containing Copyrighted Material
SCENARIO 25: Institution E records a two-way interactive video class that contains copyrighted text, video, audio, and photographs that are relevant to the class. Institution E rebroadcasts the video to a class at Institution F.
FAIR USE? Yes. It is fair use since instruction is occurring.
Placing a Book Chapter on the Library's Electronic Reserves
SCENARIO 26: A professor wants to add a book chapter to the library's electronic reserve system.
FAIR USE? Yes. The chapter may be added if access to the system is limited to students enrolled in the class.
Retention of Book Chapters on Electronic Reserve
SCENARIO 27 : The professor in SCENARIO 26 will be teaching the same course for three successive terms. She wants to leave a book chapter on the electronic reserve system for this period of time.
FAIR USE? Yes. The use is fair if access is limited to students and the work is out of print and not readily available. However, if the book is currently in print, then a fair use analysis using the four fair use factors is required.
The scenarios to the right are intended to help faculty and students evaluate fair use. These scenarios are illustrative, not exhaustive.
The examples deal with situations involving:
