Statement of Best Practices

Contact: Clark Gregor, 202-885-5935



WHO: Pat Aufderheide, Director, Center for Public Media, American University

Byron Hurt, documentarian (I Am a Man: Black Masculinity in America)

Peter Jaszi, Professor of Law, Washington College of Law, American University

Simon Kilmurry, COO, P.O.V.

Gordon Quinn, public television producer (Hoop Dreams)

Sandra Ruch, Executive Director, IDA

Judy Tam, COO, Independent Television Service

Jack Walsch, Co-Executive Director, NAMAC

Gerardine Wurzburg, Academy-Award winning filmmaker (Educating Peter)



WHAT: Documentary Filmmakers' Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use



WHERE: American University, Washington College of Law; Room 602; 4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC



WHEN: 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday, November 18



Washington, DC (Nov. 11, 2005) - Filmmakers and their national organizations, working with scholars at American University, will release a Documentary Filmmakers' Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use on November 18. Along with the statement, a discussion with leading filmmakers, representatives of filmmaker organizations and legal scholars will take place at American University Washington College of Law, room 602, from 2 - 3:30 p.m.



The statement describes a range of situations in which documentary filmmakers agree they have the right to quote copyrighted material without licensing it. For more background on fair use and additional details, visit www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fairuse.htm .



The Center for Social Media at American University and the Program on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest (PIPPI) at the Washington College of Law collaborated in coordinating the creation of the document. Located in Washington, DC, American University is a leader in global education, enrolling a diverse student body from throughout the U.S. and more than 150 countries and providing opportunities for academic excellence, public service, and internships in the nation's capital and around the world.



To attend, get details on the live web-cast of the event, or for other media assistance, contact Clark Gregor in the American University Media Relations Office at 202-885-5935.