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Answered: Copyright & Fair Use

Copyright gives a creator rights over a work they create, meaning no one else can use that work without permission.

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can a yearbook get in trouble for printing famous quotes and lyrics in its advertisement pages?

Because yearbooks aren't created to make profits, using song lyrics or a book quote in a yearbook ad would probably count as educational fair use, so it wouldn't violate copyright. 

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Does a school have the right to use a student journalist's photo?

In general, a creative work like a photograph is owned by the creator of the work, even if they are a student journalist. However, the school might have some rights to use a student journalist's photos, especially if they signed an agreement. 

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

What is Creative Commons? How do you know if something is in the public domain? What does all this have to do with copyright?

There are a lot of ways you can incorporate images, videos, and even music into your videos without violating anyone’s copyright. You could use your own content, content in the public domain, content available through Creative Commons, or content that is someone else’s but your use is fair use.

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Students at my high school hire professionals to take their senior photos for the yearbook. If the school wants to use those photos for non-yearbook purposes, does the school need the photographer’s permission?

Students at my high school hire professionals to take their senior photos for the yearbook. If the school wants to use those photos for non-yearbook purposes, does the school need the photographer’s permission?

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can I download a Marvel Comics image and use it as my Zoom background?

Can I download a Marvel Comics image and use it as my Zoom background?

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Is there anything I can do if my school yearbook uses my Instagram photos without my permission?

Is there anything I can do if my school yearbook uses my Instagram photos without my permission? 

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can I use a quote from a teacher’s lecture in an article for the school newspaper?

Can I use a quote from a teacher’s lecture in an article for the school newspaper?

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can the student newspaper get in trouble for publishing a tweet posted by a student in one of their articles?

Can the student newspaper publish a tweet posted by a student in one of their articles?

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can we use a popular song as background music for a video that will be played at graduation?

You can likely use popular songs as background music in your graduation video because it is a fair use of the songs and no money is made from using the songs.

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can I use 30 seconds of a Beyoncé song in the background of my video?

No, even if it’s only 30 seconds, its still likely to infringe Beyoncé’s copyright.

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

What is Fair Use?

Fair Use lets you use someone else's creative work without getting permission. But it's not as easy as it sounds! There are four factors to work through to tell if something is fair use

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Question | Copyright & Fair Use

Can we use pictures of celebrities to make a look-alike page in our yearbook?

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