21st Century Information Fluency

Fair Use

quizzical woman considers fair use Copyright and Fair Use Publications. Center for Social Media [Website]. Washington, (DC): School of Communication American University, November 2005- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/fair_use/ >.

This is the publication archive of the website. Extensive material including video explaining the concerns of documentary film makers. Of particular interest is the effect that pervasive copyright enforcement has on freedom of speech and the public's right to know. While fair use doctrines specifically mention reporting, social comment, and criticism, documentary film makers have felt stifled by the threats of copyright infringement lawsuits.

Calvin, Andy. Achieving a Consensus on Fair Use and Media Literacy. PBS Teachers Learning Now [Blog]. February 27, 2007- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://tinyurl.com/2owfkr >

Recent blog entry from Andy Calvin with strong information about current thinking on fair use. The essential question is how to teach students to produce media and to think critically about its use.

Checklist for Fair Use. Copyright Management Center [Website]. Indianapolis (IN): Indiana University, 2002 - 2006- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://www.csub.edu/els/_Files/WCT/Fac_Res/documents/item1070.pdf >.

This handy checklist steps you through the Fair Use decision process. You then have the option to print the checklist.

Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use. Center for Social Media [Website]. Washington, (DC): School of Communication American University, November 2005- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://tinyurl.com/y3zbhm >.

Best practices document. Fair use depends on the consensus of opinion in the user community. Courts take into consideration best practices documents should a copyright holder sue. Driven by professional media.

Gummess, Glen. Fair Use Harbor. A Visit To Copyright Bay [Website]. Joliet (IL): University of St. Francis, 7 October 2002- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://www.stfrancis.edu/cid/copyrightbay/fairuse.htm >.

Fair Use Harbor is just one of many multimedia tutorials created by the team at St. Francis University. They teach the intricacies of the subject in a light hearted and very effective manner. This site is great for both students and teachers.

Heins, Marjorie and Beckles, Tricia. Will Fair Use Survive? Free Expression in the Age of Copyright Control. Free Expression Policy Project [Website]. New York City (NY): Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, December 2005- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/fairuseflyer.html >.

From the site: "Are increasingly heavy assertions of control by copyright and trademark owners smothering fair use and free expression? The product of more than a year of research, Will Fair Use Survive? paints a striking picture of an intellectual property system that is perilously out of balance."

Heins, Marjorie and Cho, Chistina. Media Literacy: An Alternative to Censorship. Free Expression Policy Project [Website]. New York City (NY): Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Fall 2003- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://www.fepproject.org/policyreports/fairuseflyer.html >.

From the site: "..a detailed survey of media literacy education and why it is preferable to TV ratings, Internet filters, "indecency" laws, and other efforts to censor the ideas and information available to the young." With K-12 students creating video and multimedia presentations that can go 'viral' and span the globe when published with Web 2.0 technology, it's time to rethink media literacy.

Quilter, Laura and Heins, Marjorie. The Fair Use Network [Website]. New York City (NY): Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, May 2006- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: < http://fairusenetwork.org >.

This is an information site created as part of the Free Expression Policy Project located at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York City. There are a number of good essays and links to materials on Fair Use and copyright issues. They also provide advice on what to do if you get a cease and desist order from a copyright holder, even though you are using material under a Fair Use doctrine.

Russel, Carrie. Fair Use and Electronic Reserves.[Website]. Chicago (IL): AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 30 December 2005- [cited 19 March 2007]. Available from Internet: <http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/whitepapers/statementfair.cfm >

This is a specialized article aimed at librarians. It discusses fair use policies and best practices involving the management of electronic reserve systems. Included are excellent references to copyright resources.

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