MSTU 105: Foundations of Media Practice (Obsatz): Home

Materials are not protected by copyright if they fall within the public domain:

• published before 1926
• U.S. government documents

source: "Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States," Cornell University Library, March 17, 2021

Creative Commons licenses provide a standardized way to grant public permission to use creative work under copyright law.

The doctrine of Fair Use allows users of copyrighted works to reproduce and reuse copyrighted works in ways that are considered fair--such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.  Determination of fair use is based on a four factor evaluation including

• Purpose and character of the use
• Nature of the copyrighted work
• Amount used
• Effect on the market

The Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) has created a Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video which "...helps creators, online providers, copyright holders, and others interested in the making of online video interpret the copyright doctrine of fair use." As with other CMSI codes, it includes context and limitations with each of these six best practices:

1. Commenting and critiquing
2. Illustration or example
3. Incidental use
4. Cultural rescue
5. Launching discussion
6. Mashups

For a full list of UWSP Libraries streaming-video databases, click this link.

To avoid plagiarism, students should cite all sources regardless of copyright. To cite audiovisual material, consult these guides:

• APA Style
• MLA Style