Copyright questions about different formats – data, images, music and video – can be especially difficult. Sometimes the law specifically distinguishes between these different formats, and in most cases there are media-specific considerations that impact a copyright analysis. In this course we will look at four different media types, paying special attention to the unique issues for each one and the kinds of information that are important when making copyright decisions. We will work through fair use issues for each multimedia format, look at specific exceptions in the law, and consider unique issues for seeking permission for film, music, images and data. At the end of this course, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to apply our framework for making copyright decisions, and will be more comfortable with assessing multimedia issues.

Data can refer to many different types of materials, and the copyright situation is different depending on what particular type of data is meant. In this module we will consider the different potential types of data, the rights associated with each one, and the copyright considerations involved when using data. We will look carefully at how fair use applies in various data-use situations.

Those who create or use works of visual arts benefit from an understanding copyright protections and exemptions. Topics covered in this module include which works of visual arts get copyright protection, what special rights are afforded artists under the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA), how to apply the TEACH Act and fair use to images, and what steps to take if you need to seek permission. Finally, some attention will be given to social media, implied licenses that can arise when posting and using images, and privacy.

Copyright for music, and especially for recording music, is extremely complicated and difficult to untangle. In this module we will explore the multiple rights that must be accounted for in almost every musical composition or recording. We will pay special attention to the multitude of licenses that come in to play when creating or using music. Exceptions for using music in teaching will be covered, and we will examine fair use considerations for different musical situations in detail. This is a module that has important implications for musicians, music teachers, librarians, and all those who want to use or reuse music.

Copyright issues for film tend to be complicated because of the number of creators and creative works that come together to make them. In this module, students will learn to apply the fundamentals of copyright with regard to film. Topics covered include identification of the various rights and rights holders involved in many films, the role of copyright exceptions when creating or using film in educational settings, and when and how to seek permission to make use of copyrighted material in films.