Copyright Infringement

Copyright infringement is against the law. Never use other’s creation without their expressed written permission or without the purchase of rights to that material. The penalty for this violation is up to $150,000.

Releases

Anyone appearing on camera should sign a release before filming begins.  Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.  A release gives you permission to use the likeness of a person both commercially and non-commercially. Also, a release protects you against legal issues.  No release is needed if a subject is part of a crowd recorded in a public place, as long as the person is not a focus of the video.  When recording at a private home or facility, you should get a location release. Generally, you have the right to video at or from public places such as public streets, parks, and public events.

Legal Audio & Images

To stay on the legal side of things, use only music, images, and sound that you have verifiable or written permission to use. For example, use public domain music, create your own music and images, or purchase stock images. Never use proprietary audio or images without the expressed consent of the owner.

Fair Use

There exist certain instances in which works can be reproduced under the Fair Use doctrine.  Purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research are outlined as acceptable. Four factors considered in ruling whether a copyright has been infringed upon or is fair use, are as follows:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work  (Copyright.gov)

Copyright Notice

U.S. law no longer requires the use of Copyright notice. However, it can be beneficial to your work and does not require registration or permission from the U.S. Copyright office. Copyright notice should include copyright owner and first year of publication.

Registration

To register your work, visit the U.S. Copyright Office for in-depth instruction. The process is fairly simple and low-cost.

Copyright.gov. (February 2013). Copyright Notice. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ03.pdf 

Copyright.gov. (n.d.). Definitions. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-definitions.html 

Copyright.gov. (n.d.). eCO Online System. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/eco/

Copyright.gov. (n.d.). Fair Use. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

Lee, C. (2010, November 18). How to Cite Something You Found on a Website in APA Style [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2010/11/how-to-cite-something-you-found-on-a-website-in-apa-style.html

Manzer, A. & Levy, M. (2012, December 21). 9 Copyright Laws Every Video Producer Should Know [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.videomaker.com/article/15953-9-copyright-laws-every-video-producer-should-know?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article4_2013_mon_09_09&utm_campaign=traffic