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3C Media Solutions Acceptable Use Policy

Copyright Law

Music Industry | Plays/Musicals | Movies | Printed Materials |
Fine and Graphic Art | International Rights

The United States Congress based the original copyright law on the English version. Copyright protection is provided through wording in the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. law has been rewritten several times over the ensuing years, the last time in 1976, with minor modifications in the years since. The current American copyright law is embodied in Title 17 of the United States Code. In 1976, the copyright law (Title 17 United States Code) was amended to include "fair use" exemptions. These "fair use" exemptions (after considerable congressional hearings) are now referred to as "Congressional guidelines" or "fair use guidelines."

Exclusive rights of the copyright owner

The owner of copyright under Sec. 106 has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:

• To reproduce the copyrighted work,
  
  
• To prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work,
  
  
• To distribute copies of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease or lending,
  
  
• To perform the copyrighted work publicly,
  
  
• To display the copyrighted work publicly, and
  
  
• In the case of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of digital audio transmission.

PLEASE NOTE:

Not all educational uses are "fair uses." If the material is copyrighted and the use is not a fair use, you must obtain permission to use the material.

• The following contact information will assist you in obtaining permission.
  
  
• There are several resources to help you locate the owner of copyrights. Because "copy" right is separately assignable it is possible more than one person or entity may be involved.
  
  
• The Internet is a valuable resource. Enter the author's name, the title of the work and the word "copyright" into an Internet search engine.
  
  
• Contact the person or entity listed in the copyright notices. If the work does not contain a copyright notice, try to contact the publisher for copyright information.
  
  
• The U.S. Copyright Office also has a searchable copyright database on its web site at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/, which contains records of registrations and ownership documents since 1978.

Remember: copyrights exist at creation. Registration of copyrights is not mandatory

Provided below are some companies that specialize in representing artists or authors within an industry and may act as the sole licensing agent.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

1. BMI, 320 W. 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019,
   
   
2. ASCAP, ONE LINCOLN PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10023,
   
   
3. SESAC, 152 WEST 57TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019,
   
   
4. THE HARRY FOX AGENCY, 711 THIRD AVENUE, 8TH FLOOR, NEW YORK,
   
   
5. RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (RIAA)

Possible owners of audio assets include:

• Producer
  
  
• Production Company
  
  
• Composer
  
  
• Performer(s)
  
  
• Recording Label
  
  
• Distributors (licensed in various markets)
  
  
• Interviewee (rights to privacy/publicity)

To use a piece of published recorded music, you must obtain composition rights (for public performance of the composition itself); recording rights (for the recorded work); and reproduction and distribution rights (for both the composition and the recorded work).

Please note the recording label owns the specific recording of the piece of music. For the most part, the rights revert to the performer 35 years after the recording's release. Permissions must be directly obtained from the labels.

Reproduction and distribution rights for the composition are licensed through the Harry Fox Agency. The label owns reproduction and distribution rights for the recording.

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PLAYS /MUSICALS

1. SAMUEL FRENCH, INC., 45 WEST 25TH STREET - DEPT. W, NEW YORK, NY 10010, 212-206-8990,
   
   
2. DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC., 440 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, NEW YORK, NY 10016, 212-683-8960,
   
   
3. MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, 545 EIGHTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10018, 212-868-6668
   

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MOVIES

1. MOTION PICTURE LICENSING CORPORATION, 5455 CENTINELA AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90066, 800-462-8855,
   
   
2. MOVIE LICENSING USA (serves public schools K-12 and public libraries), 1-888-267-2658

Possible owners include:

• Producer
  
  
• Production Company
  
  
• Composer
  
  
• Performer(s)
  
  
• Distributors (of various markets)
  
  
• Interviewee (rights of privacy/publicity)
  
  
• Actors
  
  
• Screenwriter
  
  
• Director
  
  
• Location

It is important to note, determining who owns rights to a film or video can be tricky because rights are frequently sold. Actors, producers, writers, performers, guilds or music may also hold rights to video and film.

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PRINTED MATERIALS

1. COPYRIGHT CLEARANCE CENTER, 222 ROSEWOOD DRIVE, DANVERS, MA 01923,
   
   
2. PUBLICATION RIGHTS CLEARINGHOUSE, NATIONAL WRITERS UNION, 113 UNIVERSITY PLACE, 6TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10003, FAX 212-254-0673
   

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FINE AND GRAPHIC ART

1. AMICO ART MUSEUM IMAGE CONSORTIUM,
   
   
2. VISUAL ARTISTS AND GALLERIES ASSOCIATION (VAGA), 350 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 6305, NEW YORK, NY.
   
   
3. ARTISTS' RIGHTS SOCIETIES (ARS), 536 BROADWAY, 5TH FLOOR (at Spring Street), NEW YORK, NY 10012
   
   
4. GRAPHIC ARTIST GUILD, 90 JOHN STREET, SUITE 403, NEW YORK, NY 10038
   
   
5. SOCIETY OF CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS (SCBWI), 8271 BEVERLY BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90048
   

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INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS

1. VERDI (VERY EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS DATA INFORMATION)

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