Copyright Issues
This page addresses legal things you need know if you are selecting your script from a private source other than a publishing company or are putting together some sort of variety show in the United States.
Using someone else's work
What you learned in College may no longer be true.
Primary materials, current legislation, cases and issues from Stanford University libraries.
Primary materials, current legislation, cases and issues from the Association of Research Libraries.
Geared toward writers. Downloadable PDF files and other copyright websites. Click on their resources tab.
A dictionary to help translate some of the terms used in the above links by rightsforartists.com
Secure the permission to use someone's work first.
Self published internet authors
- E-mail them to confirm the rights that they are granting for any given show.
Experts from popular shows
- This is usually prohibited against in the copyright of a given show.
- If the show is available on the web their copyright restrictions are often also available on the web.
- If you want to do an excerpt from a show contact the author or publisher and make arrangements first.
- Karaoke web sites are now posting this disclaimer: "If you use the music resources linked here for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research, such as public performance, it could be considered in excess of "fair use." It is your responsibility to use these resources in accordance with your local copyright laws."
Answering common myths about copyright.
Or...Use original material that you the author has wrote.
Or...Use material that is in public domain.
This is a page with a collection of links to help define and locate public domain material.
Disclaimer: This copyright information does not constitute legal advice. Specific questions about how copyright law applies to individual instructional or research use of copyrighted material should be referred to a lawyer.
