Tag: Film

Scenario 2

15 March 2022 /

Copyright and creative reuse in education

Read each section in the scenario and expand the accordion to discover what uses are covered by licences that exceptions may permit.

As part of her lecture, a Media Studies teacher wants to show a couple of clips from the series “Black Mirror” to prompt a discussion with her students about the role of social media in our lives.

One clip is from the first season, broadcast on Channel 4; the other is from season 3, released on Netflix.

Regarding showing clips in the class, what is the difference between TV shows broadcast on Channel 4 and those released on Netflix?

The lecture is being video recorded, and the video will be used in a MOOC on Critical Perspectives on Social Media.

What are the relevant legal aspects of lecture recording?

After watching the clips, the students are intrigued and ask the teacher to organise a screening of the two episodes in their entirety. The teacher organises the screening as an after-school activity within the educational establishment, where only her students can participate. The screening is followed by a Q&A about law and technology.

Does the teacher need to get a licence to do the screening?

After watching the two episodes, one student is particularly fascinated by the series and creates a mash-up video of those two episodes as part of her assignment.

How can students lawfully create mash-ups and other derivative works?

This scenario is part of the online course Copyright and Creative Reuse in Education, designed by Bartolomeo Meletti (Learning on Screen). More information about the course can be found at the following URL: https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/courses/copyright-and-creative-reuse-in-education-online-course/ 

The author takes no responsibility for the content of this page, which is not intended as binding legal advice. The views are about copyright in the UK Higher Education sector context.

Scenario 1

15 February 2022 /

A jazz band composed of two trumpeters is performing in a pub.

On the stage background is a famous photograph of Louis Daniel Armstrong, taken by Jack Bradley in 1957.

At the concert’s end, the audience asks them to play one more tune, and they improvise an adaptation of “In The Mood” by Glenn Miller (1904-1944).

A member of the audience, Ben, makes a video of the performance.

Another audience member, Tina, is a film producer producing a documentary film called “Improvised Jazz”. At the end of the session, she asks the band whether they would allow her to include the sound recording of the improvised piece in her film.

While the musicians explain to Tina that they have not recorded the performance, Ben overhears the conversation and tells them he has a recording of the improvised session.

A few days later, Ben used the audio from his recording and a sound recording of “In the Mood” (published in 1978) to create a video where he discusses and compares the original jazz standard with the adaptation by the two trumpeters.

This scenario is part of the online course Copyright and Creative Reuse in Education, designed by Bartolomeo Meletti (Learning on Screen). More information about the course can be found at the following URL: https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/courses/copyright-and-creative-reuse-in-education-online-course/ 

The author takes no responsibility for the content of this page, which is not intended as binding legal advice. The views are about copyright in the UK Higher Education sector context.

Can I screen movies for a students’ Film Club society?

25 January 2022 /

Would a student film club be allowed to screen films from BoB or on DVD from a library collection without breaching copyright/licensing terms?

Let’s assume that the aim of screening films is to explore sociological concepts for exploration and discussion among students. It’s related to the student’s studies, i.e., for instruction and not for social events. Onsite screenings would be covered under an exception in the law for performing, playing or showing work in the course of activities of an educational establishment. Still, they have to be strictly limited to staff and students of the institution. You couldn’t use this for anything open to the general public (or invited guests/family members of students).

You should always encourage whoever hosts the screenings to promote them as an educational resource rather than entertainment, and then you have a strong defence if ever challenged, however unlikely.

Also, the exception for criticism, review, quotation and news reporting might apply, but it depends on how easy it is to argue that showing a whole film is fair dealing.

A ‘public’ screening always requires permission and licensing, regardless of whether a fee is charged or not or for charity fundraising purposes.

The author takes no responsibility for the content of this page, which is not intended as binding legal advice. The views are about copyright in the UK Higher Education sector context.

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