Copyright fair use for documentary filmmakers

In the article Doc-makers get specific about copyright fair use Steve Behrens writes that things have changed for documentary producers who need to use somebody else’s footage or music in their films. He reports that on Nov. 18th the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, the Independent Documentary Association, public TV’s Independent Television Service and the series P.O.V., and other media groups endorsed a Statement of Best Practices defining four kinds of situations when a producer, under the “fair use” provisions of copyright law, need not pay for a film clip, a shot of a painting or a snatch of music. Good article.

The full report is available for download: “Documentary Filmmakers’ Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use,” (PDF, 160KB, 12 pages) from the Center for Social Media.