Fair Use, Copyright Quiz

1. A teacher rents Gone With the Wind to show the burning of Atlanta scene to her class while studying the Civil War. This is fair use.

True

False

The use of the movie Gone With the Wind in this scenario would likely be considered fair use. Fair use allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner, for purposes such as education or commentary. In this case, the teacher is using a small portion of the movie to enhance her class's understanding of the Civil War. This use is transformative and does not negatively impact the market for the original work, making it likely to be considered fair use.

Explanation

The use of the movie Gone With the Wind in this scenario would likely be considered fair use. Fair use allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner, for purposes such as education or commentary. In this case, the teacher is using a small portion of the movie to enhance her class's understanding of the Civil War. This use is transformative and does not negatively impact the market for the original work, making it likely to be considered fair use.

2. A student finds a photo online dramatizing a pre-Columnbian Viking landing in America. Since the school symbol is a Viking, he posts this photo on the school website. This is fair use.

True

False

Posting a photo on the school website without obtaining proper permission or rights from the owner is not fair use. Fair use allows for limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, in this case, the student does not provide any transformative or educational value by simply posting the photo on the school website, and it could potentially infringe on the copyright holder's rights.

Explanation

Posting a photo on the school website without obtaining proper permission or rights from the owner is not fair use. Fair use allows for limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, in this case, the student does not provide any transformative or educational value by simply posting the photo on the school website, and it could potentially infringe on the copyright holder's rights.

3. An enterprising media aide tapes 60 Minutes every week in case teachers need it. This is Fair Use.

True

False

The statement is false because taping 60 Minutes every week in case teachers need it does not fall under fair use. Fair use allows for limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, taping a TV show for personal use or for potential future use does not fall under any of these categories and would likely be considered copyright infringement.

Explanation

The statement is false because taping 60 Minutes every week in case teachers need it does not fall under fair use. Fair use allows for limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, taping a TV show for personal use or for potential future use does not fall under any of these categories and would likely be considered copyright infringement.

4. On her home VCR a history teacher taped the originial ABC news report of Nixon leaving the White House after resigning. She uses the entire news program every year in her classroom. This is fair use.

True

False

This statement is false because using the entire news program every year in her classroom would not fall under fair use. Fair use allows for the limited and transformative use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, or research. However, using the entire program repeatedly without any transformative purpose would likely exceed the bounds of fair use.

Explanation

This statement is false because using the entire news program every year in her classroom would not fall under fair use. Fair use allows for the limited and transformative use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, or research. However, using the entire program repeatedly without any transformative purpose would likely exceed the bounds of fair use.

5. The owner of the local Blockbuster Video store supports the school by donating one videotape rental-free to the school every Friday. The video is shown in the mulit-purpose room to reward students with perfect attendance that week. It does improve attendance. This falls under "fair use."

True

False

This statement is false because the practice of the owner of the local Blockbuster Video store donating a videotape rental-free to the school every Friday does not fall under "fair use." Fair use refers to the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. In this case, the videotape rental is being used as a reward for students with perfect attendance, which does not fall under any of the fair use categories.

Explanation

This statement is false because the practice of the owner of the local Blockbuster Video store donating a videotape rental-free to the school every Friday does not fall under "fair use." Fair use refers to the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. In this case, the videotape rental is being used as a reward for students with perfect attendance, which does not fall under any of the fair use categories.