Concerned about video copyright laws? You should be. One copyright infringement may cost you up to $150,000.
When youâre ready to learn how to avoid infringing on copyrighted material and save yourself loads of cash, read on.
1. When Video Copyright Laws Say No Permission is Required
Some videos fall under the public domain, and you may use these without permission. These are the general rules for videos that fall under the public domain:
- If the video was published before March 1, 1989, and didnât comply with at least one of the required formalities.
- The period of the videoâs copyright protection ended.
- The copyright holder put it in the public domain under the Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication.
Other videos arenât copyrightable, so you may use them at your leisure. They include the following:
- Facts
- Works not fixed in a tangible form of expression
- Words, phrases, or familiar symbols
- Ideas, concepts, discoveries, or principles
- Works created by the US government
Similarly, you may use the video if youâre using it in a way that doesnât implicate the rights of copyright holders. These are numerous and varied. Itâs usually better to simply avoid videos that are already copyrighted.
- Rights of reproduction
- Economic rights
- Substantial similarity
- Rights of Public Performance and Display
- Moral Rights
You may also use it if itâs permitted by a userâs right or if the use falls within an existing license.
2. Copyright Infringement
Whenever you use a video thatâs copyright-protected without the express permission of its creator, youâre committing copyright infringement. In other words, youâre using someone elseâs video and passing it off as your own. Worse, the creator of that video didnât agree to your blatant theft of their property.
Hereâs what YouTube copyright laws infringement say about the matter. If you infringe on someoneâs copyrighted video and are found liable, you may face damages up to $150,000 for each infringement. If your act of infringement is willful, your penalty may be even steeper.
3. Sound Bites
Of course, you need an audio component for your video. It would feel empty without it. Thatâs why you scour the net looking for music, sound clips, and even sound effects.
Theyâre available out there, so they must be free, right? Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. If you use these sounds without express permission from the owner, you run a high risk of copyright infringement under YouTube copyright policy.
Audio copyright policy works just like the video copyright policy. If youâre caught and found liable in a court of law, youâre then fined from $200 to $150,000 for each infringement.
The simplest way to avoid this is to create your soundbites. High-quality sound equipment is now available for a pittance. And you can pick up professional sound editing software for free online.
Create your sound clips and sound effects yourself. Though music is much more difficult to produce, you can often speak to local bands and ask for a short demo to use on your video. So long as you give them credit in your video, most are happy to do the trade.
You can also find âbuyoutâ soundbites and music online. Essentially, you pay a one-time fee for unlimited use of the bite or music.
4. Fair Use Video Clips
This is where things get a little tricky. Did you know that copyright-protected works are sometimes permitted for unlicensed use if that use is considered a âfreedom of expression?â You can find more details under Section 107 of the Copyright Act, but hereâs the Cliff Notes version.
A judge determines Fair Use by analyzing each of these four factors:
1. Whatâs the character and purpose of use? That includes whether such use is for commercial or nonprofit educational purposes. Courts focus on whether the user adds some new meaning or expression to the work or whether it merely copies the original.
2. Whatâs the nature of the copyrighted video? Fictional works are less likely to fall under the Fair Use doctrine than factual works.
3. How long is the video snippet compared to the overall length of the original video? Small snippets are more likely to fall under the fair act laws than large snippets. Unfortunately, if that small snippet is considered to be the âheart of the work,â itâll weigh against a Fair Use ruling.
4. What effectâs will the unauthorized use have on the copyrighted workâs value? If it harms the copyright ownerâs potential profits, that weighs against a Fair Use ruling. Parodies are sometimes considered an exception to this rule.
The something around Fair Use doctrine is murky at best. To discover more about the effects of Fair Use on your particular circumstances contact a professional.
5. Fair Use Myths
Plenty of misinformation is floating around on the net that may mislead lead you into believing youâre covered by Fair Use doctrine. Know that if you use copyrighted material without the express consent of the owner, no silver bullet will guarantee your protection. Courts will weigh your case using the 4 criteria spelled out in the section above.
Myth #1: If I credit the copyright owner in my video, it falls under the Fair Use doctrine.
Remember, youâve got to add new expression or meaning to a work for your use of a video to fall under Fair Use doctrine. Just because you use phrases like âall rights belong to the author,â or âI donât ownâ doesnât mean youâre using Fair Use.
Myth #2: When I post a disclaimer on my video, it falls under Fair Use.
Once again, no magic words will get you out of the 4 criteria laid out under Fair Use doctrine. Posting âno infringement intended,â or including the 4 Fair Use criteria in your video wonât protect you. If you think they will, go back and reread the 4 criteria because youâre missing the point.
Myth #3: Non-profit and entertainment fall under Fair Use.
For fair use to apply, one must fulfill all 4 criteria. âFor entertainment purposes onlyâ is unlikely to sway a judge that even one of the criteria is met. âNon-profitâ is mentioned in Fair Use analysis, but itâs not considered an automatic defense by itself.
Myth #4: If I add my material to someone elseâs copyrighted work, then my use is fair.
Even if you added original content, you might not be eligible for this defense. Courts will consider all 4 factors in the Fair Use test, including the quantity of material.
Whatâs Next?
Now you know how video copyright laws may affect your YouTube channel. Once again, if you have questions about your situation, donât assume youâre covered by Fair Use doctrine. Contact a lawyer to ask for advice. Consult a copyright lawyer for additional information about copyright issues.
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