NPR has a show called “On the Media”
These two stories are on todays show.
Story #1 –Fair Use Follies
Simply put, “fair use” is a legal principle that allows copyrighted material to be used without permission from or payment to the owner. But a recent symposium on the subject at New York University demonstrated just how difficult it is to know what constitutes fair. And in the meantime, many creative types are left in the lurch. Amy Sewell, producer of the documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom”, shares some war stories with Brooke.
Story #2 –Cloudy and Fair
Fordham University law professor Hugh Hansen is an advocate of strong copyright laws. But even he concedes that for low-budget filmmakers, copyright can be more of a burden than a blessing. Brooke speaks with him and with Duke law professor James Boyle, who thinks copyright holders have ushered in a “permission culture” that ignores the laws governing fair use.
At their website it is possible to listen to individual stories without having to listen to the entire program.
I highly recommend that you listen to both stories. Story #1 angered me because of the way copyright was being used. Story #2 really helped to put things in perspective.
“On the Media”
I *just* listened to that show, and thought the same thing. “On the Media” tends to be rather biased, but they have good stories. This one left me wondering what t had to do with “The Media”
I’m now listening to yesterdays On Point, a great show that I’ll post later, all about Google et. al.
Re:”On the Media”
Question from previous poster:
This one left me wondering what t had to do with “The Media”
Fair Use has everything to do with “The Media”. If copyright was structured the way that the documentary film maker thought in story #1 it would be difficult to do the evening news. Every copyrighted item or sound in the range of the camera would possible block the ability to show the clip as news. The media is in the business of transmitting content. Copyright regulates content. The media should be very interested in how copyright law is written, intepreted, and used.