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Question of the Month

Fair Use Question of the Month: Images for Online and Print Journal

Dear CMSI, Read more...

A piece that I wrote for class will be featured in a local art journal, print and online. However, I must submit a final edit within a short deadline. I am nervous to include illustrative images supporting my analysis of a twentieth century artist in relation to the political climate of the time. I fear I don’t have enough time or resources to obtain permissions for all the images. 
Best, 
Colin B.

Fair Use Question of the Month: Exhibiting Activist Letters

Image by Jim Yardly, Civil Rights, Demonstrations, "March to Freedom," Detroit, 1963Dear CMSI,

I work at a community library and we are planning an exhibit on civil rights demonstrations in the area during the 60s. I found some letters from an activist during that time stashed away in our archives. I think the letters would really add to the exhibit, but I’m worried about copyright and the only information I have about the writer is his first name. Is it okay to put the letters on display? Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Photos for Art Installation

Dear CMSI, 

As an artist, I want to use photos of models, including the famous ‘60s model Twiggy, to explore our definitions of feminine beauty, in an installation. Do I need to license the images? Should I stick to images of models who are not well known? I’m pulling stuff off the Internet.Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Images of Copyrighted Work

PaintingDear CMSI,

I found an acceptable-quality copy of the public-domain painting I need to illustrate a point in my new book. The same image is available from a museum, but the museum would charge me a permissions fee. Can I just use the copy I found for my book? Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Digitizing Archives of Copyrighted Work

Letter

Dear CMSI,

I am part of a team in the special collections unit of my university library working on the recently acquired personal archive of a regional artist. We’re hoping to make the correspondence between the artist and various collectors and institutions digitally available. The archive came with a donor’s agreement allowing digital display, but there are a lot of items in the archive that are actually copyrighted to others. So what we want to know is, can we employ fair use here? If so, how?Read more...