I want to show a clip from Disney's Cinderella (I know with Disney the answer is probably no but I thought I'd try). The clip is the part where she comes out in the dress that the mice have made and the sisters see that she used their old stuff and ruin her dress. I'm using it to illustrate point of view (having my students do a draw-lable-caption) from the stepsister's POV. So-I own Cinderella-can I show the clip?
I remember having an inservice on copyright, and I believe it is legal to show a short clip for educational purposes.. This says 3 minutes or 10% of the entire program. http://home.earthlink.net/~cnew/research.htm
You can actually show the entire video if you want. Here's the law: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000107----000-.html Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.
After hearing the uproar a while back about showing Disney movies, I emailed the company myself. (The story was that they were offering a reward to parents who turned in teachers for showing Disney movies.) I was assured that Disney had no problem with teachers showing Disney movies in the classroom. Their concerns were people showing movies and charging for them.
That is very interesting! My library at my old school wouldn't even keep Disney movies for check-out. The librarian told us if we were watching them in our classroom that she didn't want to know about it. I always thought that Disney movies were a big no-no. Thanks for the info.
That's great information! We just had a conversation about this at school last week (summer school). I'll have to pass it along.
I don't know that teachers were, the email said that the only problem they had with people showing their movies in public was doing it for monetary gain. I wrote the letter after a co-teacher told me that she had a parent threaten to turn her in for the ransom that Disney had about showing the movies in class. They emailed back almost immediately letting me know that wasn't the case.
I have heard of some schools having "Movie Night" to raise money; families come and watch movies and snack and pay a small fee. Perhaps this is what Disney doesn't like.
I highly doubt Disney has *ANY* problem with their movies being show at all. You have nothing to worry about.
Lots of nursery and elementary schools run "pajama parties" or "movie nights" during the winter when everyone has cabin fever. They charge $1 or $2, the kids come in their PJs and watch a movie and have popcorn or something, and it acts as a fundraiser.
We had a movie night at our school. Families could watch the movie for free, but the PTA sold juice boxes and popcorn for $0.25 for parents who wanted to buy snacks for the kids.
One of the districts around me (don't remember which one-it was a few years back) was sued for showing Disney. Last year my school BOUGHT rights to show movies for ONE school year from Disney. I believe it is not allowed.
Showing a movie for entertainment and for educational purposes are two different things - even if both occur in a school. But if you have a lesson plan, you should be ok.
Techlearning.com, at http://www.techlearning.com/db_area/archives/TL/2002/10/copyright_answers.php, has this: One would expect that there's a way to do this over the Internet, though I haven't found it yet.
Please not that the cited law says that the "fair" use of a copyrighted work is not copyright infringement and goes on to say that "fair" use depends on a number of things, including the amount of the work used. A general rule of thumb is the lesser of 3 minutes or 10% to be safe. You really need to check with your district administration. A local school district was sued and lost because a teacher showed a movie in class. It seems that a kid went home and said something like "Hey, dad! They showed your movie in class today."
So if you own a dvd or rent a DVD from the video store your not suppose to show it to your class? (thinking I'm having a duh moment). Am I missing the point?
Every DVD or VCR I've ever seen contains explicit language in various places to the effect that showing the contents outside a private home is forbidden. In the literal sense, it's a public performance, and as is pointed out on the Techlearning Web site I cited above, videos are not covered by fair use laws. (One could consider lobbying Congress to get that changed, though one probably runs a snowball's chance in a very hot place.)
My point is check with the appropriate office in your district if you value your job and assets. If they say OK, then consider doing it. But get it in writing. The lawyers will go after the deep pockets if they do come knocking. From what I have read, you _might_ be able to make a case for showing Stand and Deliver in a math class if what you are doing is trying to motivate disadvantaged students to take advanced math classes because there is more to teaching than just the math. OTOH you might be had pressed to make a case for Finding Nemo.
Hmmm.. well we watch Little Nemo during our Ocean/Sea unit last year, so I'm sure that could be a good argument that it was okay.
Huh?? This seems so odd to me. If I buy a video and and show it to a group of students, how is that different than buying a book which I read aloud, or a music CD which I play and sing with my entire class? All of these items are copyrighted. Not that I know ... I have no expertise here, I'm just wondering ... especially since I have a Polar Express party every Christmas.:unsure: :unsure: :unsure: Showing for profit is of course another story which I can completely understand.
It's because somebody with money and clout managed to get that stipulation written into the law. The music CDs that most teachers use in the classroom are designed to be used in the classroom and may well contain some explicit permission for use in the classroom.
I hope I can bring my laptop to jail with me. We purchased the "High School Musical" Double CD where they teach kids how to dance. We've been planning to teach the kids the dance steps in PE!
I just had an inservice on this yesterday. The district I am working for has been sued in the past, and as part of the settlement they have to give this inservice to every new employee. You may NOT show any movie at school for "entertainment" purposes. You CAN show a movie that you rent from the store for "educational" purposes. So the example given in the OP would be ok. Disney is one of the most strict about these things. To be safe, I would ask your district though. It's your butt on the line to be frank. You can be sued personally, along with your principal, superintendent and anyone who knows you were doing it. They will also audit every classroom in the school to check for illegal use.
Because technically you don't own the movie. You are buying rights to personally watch it, not rights to show it to a bunch of other people. By showing it to a bunch of other people, you are violating the test by possibly reducing their sales and income. Music is different. If you have the CD or if you PURCHASE the music online, you can listen to it in your class. But you probably wouldn't be able to play it over the loud speaker. Just like a video, if it's for educational purposes, you can show it in your class but you can't make a copy, play it over a school wide network, or show it to a large group outside of the instructional area (such as a cafeteria or gym). The rules are interesting. We can blame Sonny Bono for most of them.
Our school does that and it is legal as long as you get the rights to show it. You have to have written permission from the company. After that, you can show it. If I were the company, I would allow it. Do you know how many kids will want to have the movie themselves after seeing it??
