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Question of the Month

Fair Use Question of the Month: Background Music

Image by get directly down/FlickrDear CMSI, I work for a nonprofit organization that fights racial inequality in public education. I am creating a video about the organization to go in the "About" section on our website, and I want to use a popular song in the background. Would my video qualify as fair use? Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Covering Exhibits of Copyrighted Works

Photo by Vivanista1/FlickrDear CMSI, 

I want to write a blog post about a local art exhibit that’s opening in my town next week. I’m hoping to take pictures at the opening, but I’m sure I’ll end up with copyrighted works from the exhibit in the backgrounds of my photos. Do I have to get the gallerist’s permission for that artwork?

Melina Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Illustration in News Reporting

Photo by tedeytan/FlickrDear Center for Media & Social Impact,

I am a reporter writing on the growing popularity of food trucks. I want to use Twitpics circulated by customers to illustrate my news feature. Can I use those pictures without checking with and getting the approval of the people who Tweeted them?

Katie Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Cultural Reporting and Criticism

Image by Abee5/Flickr

Dear Center for Media & Social Impact,

I am reviewing the latest work of a novelist, and want to quote some text from his earlier novel, as well his current one, to show how differently the novelist uses language in his current work. I know I have permission to quote from the current work because the publisher requested that I write this review. But I am grappling with whether it is appropriate to quote from the novelist’s earlier work. 

Melanie Read more...

Fair Use Question of the Month: Incidental Audio in Journalism

Photo by ejmc/FlickrDear Center for Social Media,

I'm a radio reporter, and I was interviewing some protesters at a rally where the police had given the occupiers an ultimatum. Behind my interviewee, you can hear some of the protesters are chanting, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” Actually, it's more like they were singing that line from the John Lennon song. This is pretty much the best interview I've got. Do I have to  use another interview instead? Yoko Ono is known to be really litigious. Read more...