PLEASE READ: Copyrights and the Internet

Update (April 7, 2013): GFCLearnFree.org explains in clear language how copyrights work on the Internet: Blog Basics-Obtaining Content and Fair Use.

Hello students and teachers.  I need your help.  Can you help me educate others about copyright law, and create some guidelines for using material on this blog?

What Happened?
I was uploading some new class videos to YouTube today, when I saw something surprising.  There were notices from YouTube next to some of the videos: Third-Party Content Matched.  The videos show a performance from a group of students in class.

You can see the videos in a previous post: The Christmas Truce Performance.  

In the performance, the students play a song: We Wish You A Merry Christmas.  This version of the song is owned by EMI Music Publishing.  EMI was the largest music publishing company in the world.  Apparently the company has been sold, but the copyrights to the music remain.

Copyright law is difficult and confusing (at least to me).  The lyrics of the song originate from a 17th century English folk song.  So who could own those words? Well, EMI owns the recording.  It is surprising to find what can be owned as property.  The famous I Have a Dream speech, delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963, is owned by EMI Music Publishing.  This means there are restrictions on how the recording of his speech can be used.  Al Jazeera has an interesting article about the controversy. 

Potential Problem
I submitted to YouTube an acknowledgement that the copyrighted song is part of the video.  This means that EMI has the right to advertise on the video, or block the video from playing in certain countries.  I don't understand everything about this.  This is what I know:

• When videos contain copyrighted material (music, images, text, or movies) YouTube can remove, block (the owner can limit who can see the video), or monetize (the owner can add advertisements to the video) 
• YouTube can close your account: You lose any videos you have uploaded.  You must wait six months before you can open your account again.

How can this affect our blog?
Honestly, I don't know.  Right now, we don't have a problem.  Most of our posts contain original content.  However, YouTube discovered copyrighted content used in a class video.  I think it is important to become educated about copyright laws and restrictions.  I think it is important to create some basic rules.  

Do copyrights only apply to YouTube videos?
No.  Copyrights can be applied to any medium: 

• text, articles, lesson plans
• music and recordings
• images, photographs, symbols, and art
• videos, movies, and recordings of performances

Why is this important?
I personally disagree with the actions taken by YouTube (in regards to The Christmas Truce performance).  

• The song is a small part of the performance.  
• The video is not public (you can only see it on our blog).
• The video is being used for educational (not commercial) purposes.

However, YouTube provides an amazing service, and it's free.  It must obey the law.  Aside from legal problems, there are other reasons why I think understanding copyright laws are important.

• Artists and writers deserve credit for their hard work.
• We would be upset if anyone used our videos, stories, or photographs on another website without our permission.

One of the easiest options is using work from the Creative Commons.

from the Creative Commons Downloads page

Creative Commons
The Creative Commons works within existing copyright laws,  however, it gives more options and freedoms to the creators or users.  The owners can allow users to freely download, share, post, or make changes to their work.  CreativeCommons.org allows users to easily search for a variety of media (including images, logos, music, video, etc.).  Once you find what you are looking for, it will give instructions for how you can use it, and how the owners want to be attributed (or recognized for their work).

There are many sites that collect media with Creative Commons licences.  One of my favorites is The Free Music Archive.  

There is music of every kind here.  All of it can be downloaded for free.  Most of it can be used in our projects.

What can we do?
We have many talented and intelligent people among us.  Together, we can ensure that our blog remains safe, and that we give proper credit where credit is due.

My request to our Internet community:
1. Can you research or share what you know about Copyright Law on the Internet?  I would like to create a set of guidelines or rules for posting content on our blog.  We can create a new page (a tab at the top of our blog) for this information.

2. Can you find good resources for Creative Commons material?  CreativeCommons.org and FreeMusicArchive.org are two examples.

3. How do we want to label this site? We can register at CreativeCommons.org to protect our content, but there are many options.


My Final Thought
This topic is complicated and confusing.  The best thing we can do is to learn more about it, and talk about it.  Please start the conversation in the comments.  There are no stupid questions, and all thoughts and comments are welcome.  In fact, I see some potential here for ORAL WAR style debates.

-Eric, NYC